More than 280 Romanian mercenaries, who had been fighting alongside the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), surrendered to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels on Wednesday following the fall of Goma city. The city was captured by M23 forces on Monday after days of fierce fighting, marking a significant shift in control of the region.
The mercenaries, who had been part of FARDC’s defense against the advancing rebels, were paraded at the Grande Barrière border in Rubavu, where M23 military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma, addressed them directly. He issued a stern warning to the mercenaries, advising them never to return to DR Congo. Ngoma questioned the disparity in wages, noting that the mercenaries earned up to USD 8,000 per month, while FARDC soldiers are paid less than USD 100. In a symbolic gesture, Ngoma ordered the mercenaries to repeat the phrase, “Africa is for Africans, Congo is for Congolese.”
After their surrender, the mercenaries were escorted across the border into Rwanda, where they underwent thorough security checks. They were then transported under tight security to Kigali International Airport, where arrangements were made for their deportation back to Romania. The Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) confirmed the arrival of the mercenaries in a statement, saying, “The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) received and escorted over 280 Romanian mercenaries who had been fighting alongside FARDC in eastern DRC. Following their surrender to M23 after the capture of Goma, they are now being transported to Kigali.”
Meanwhile, in Goma, the atmosphere was noticeably quieter on Wednesday, with some residents who had fled to Rwanda beginning to return. However, the city remains in a state of paralysis, as many businesses are still closed and residents grapple with the aftermath of the conflict.