Sultani Makenga is a well-known military leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He is the leader of the M23 rebel group, which has been active in eastern Congo for years. His life story is filled with war, politics, and rebellion.
Sultani Makenga was born on December 25, 1973.
While many people celebrate Christmas on this day, for Makenga, it was just another step toward a life full of battles. He was born in South Kivu, a region in the DRC that has experienced decades of conflict.
At the age of 17, Makenga made a life-changing decision. He quit school and joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
The RPF was a rebel movement led by Paul Kagame, which later took control of Rwanda in 1994 after ending the genocide. Many young men from Congo’s Tutsi community joined the RPF, believing that it was their best chance to fight for their people’s rights.
Makenga trained as a soldier and quickly rose through the ranks. His experience in Rwanda gave him the skills needed to fight in wars. After the RPF victory in Rwanda, he returned to Congo and became involved in different rebel groups.
He later joined the Congolese army, but his loyalty remained with the rebel movements. In 2012, he played a key role in forming the M23 rebel group, named after the March 23 peace agreement that was never fully implemented.
The M23 claimed they were fighting against government corruption and for the rights of the Tutsi community in Congo.
Under Makenga’s leadership, the M23 launched a military campaign that shook the region. In 2012, they captured the city of Goma, a major economic and political center in eastern DRC.
However, after international pressure, the rebels withdrew. Makenga fled to Uganda but later returned to lead the M23 again.
To this day, Makenga remains a key figure in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. His forces continue to clash with the Congolese military, and peace remains uncertain.