Real Clear World
It
was a rainy Sunday afternoon in early April when we called "Brigadier
General" Sultani Makenga, the military leader of M23, currently one of the
strongest armed groups in eastern Congo. Working as field researchers in the
Kivus, we wanted to engage with him face-to-face to capture his take on the DR
Congo's state of affairs and learn first-hand about the latest developments
inside the rebellion. M23 was consumed by heavy infighting in recent weeks,
after latent fractions and fissures between Makenga and his rival Bosco
Ntaganda erupted into open and violent conflict. In the ensuing whirlwind of
events, Makenga regained the upper hand in late March, and Ntaganda surrendered
to the International Criminal Court, leaving many of his men with no choice but
to re-defect.
The
initial telephone conversation was an unanticipated success. With little
hesitation, Makenga agreed to meet us. The ensuing organizational logistics
were simple and matter of fact, conducted via text message informing us of his
whereabouts north of the provincial capital of Goma. As an individual
sanctioned by the United Nations and the United States
government, he remained relatively unconcerned and non-clandestine about his
location.
