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European Mercenaries hired by DRC granted safe passage in Rwanda following M23 capture and Release.

The Rwandan Ministry of Defense announced that it has received and escorted over 280 European mercenaries, primarily from Romania, back to their home countries.

The fighters, affiliated with the Romanian-based private military company RALF, were granted safe passage through Rwanda and repatriated on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. They had been supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) army FDLR in its fight against the M23 rebel group in Eastern Congo since 2022.

However, their mission took an unexpected turn when M23 forces overpowered the coalition and captured the city of Goma on Monday 27th January. Following their defeat, the mercenaries surrendered to MONUSCO peacekeepers before being allowed to leave the region.

This raised a critical question: Are foreign mercenaries from Europe truly the solution to African conflicts? M23 spokesperson Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma openly questioned the role of these hired fighters, particularly their ability to train troops. Addressing one of the captured mercenaries who claimed to have been training FDRL soldiers, he asked, “How can someone like you train troop?” He further highlighted the big salary disparities between the mercenaries and Congolese soldiers, stating, “You get $8,000 a month, while a Congolese soldier in the army earns less than $100 a month.” His remarks underscored the notion that these fighters were driven by financial gain rather than a commitment to resolving the ongoing conflict in North Kivu.

Meanwhile, at Kigali International Airport, one of the departing mercenaries was interviewed while waiting in line. When asked if he had any message for those still in Goma, he simply replied, “I really don’t know, I’m just happy I get to go home now.” When pressed about his feelings, he added, “I’m relieved.”

In Goma, approximately 800 mercenaries from the RALF group had been stationed in North Kivu, where they also controlled and protected the town of Sake alongside FARDC. Of these, the 280 captured by M23 were later handed over to MONUSCO, leading to their eventual departure from the region.

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Picture of Kennedy Rukundo

Kennedy Rukundo

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