IS M23 RECRUITING REFUGEES IN UGANDA? AFC/M23 Rebel Leader David Baraka Elonga Arrested in Kyangwali Settlement

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Kyangwali Refugee Settlement is home to 137,183 Refugees.




A high ranking official of the armed M23 rebel movement has been arrested by police for recruiting Congolese refugees in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Kikuube district, western Uganda. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement is home to 137,183 Refugees.









David Baraka Elonga, who is the political commissar of Congo River Alliance, known by its French name Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), was arrested on September 5, 2024, in Kyangwali where he was actively recruiting refugees to participate in military training in DRC to overthrow the regime of President Felix Thsisekedi. On interrogation by detectives, Baraka confirmed that he was reporting directly to the AFC Commander, Corneille Yobeluo Nangaa (Nangaa). Baraka also disclosed that he was based in Bunia, Djungu territory, Ituri Province.







“Security found that Baraka had already recruited 32 people, including four young girls,” said a local official at the refugee camp who preferred anonymity to speak freely, adding, “The poor refugees were waiting for a vehicle to take them away from the refugee camp to DRC for military training.”




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The development now follows United Nations’ recent investigative reports showing that the M23/AFC rebel alliance has been recruiting refugees from Ugandan refugee camps, to replenish their ranks with fighters.  AFC is a coalition of rebel groups that seeks to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The principal member of AFC is the UN-sanctioned March 23 Movement (M23).




At its launch on December 15, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, AFC invited armed groups and members of the Congolese military to join its rebellion.  AFC conducts advocacy and public outreach on behalf of M23 and seeks to extend its armed insurgency beyond eastern DRC.  The United Nations has since accused the rebel alliance of driving political instability, violent conflict, and civilian displacement. 




Sneaking into the camp.    Local leaders told us that Baraka quietly sneaked into Uganda through the porous Tchomia-Bugoma border point on August 8, 2024.







“The rebel illegally entered Kyangwali refugee camp, which is home to over 137,000 refugees, and activated his contacts to recruit as many refugees as possible to return to Congo and fight. The refugees are promised a better life and rewards in future,” said an official at the refugee camp.




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Baraka also disclosed that the refugees were to undertake military training in Bunagana near the borders of Uganda and Rwanda.




Bunagana, a critical border town, is controlled by M23 rebels.  Police have since opened charges of human trafficking against Baraka.




Efforts to reach AFC commander Nangaa were still fruitless as his known mobile phone was switched off.  Additional Reporting – Chimp Reports 









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