Bertrand Bisimwa (born c. 1973 in Bukavu)[1] is a Congolese rebel leader who is the president[2] of the March 23 Movement, a rebel group based in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[3]
Bertrand Bisimwa | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1973 (age 51–52) Bukavu, South Kivu, Zaire |
| Allegiance |  March 23 Movement |
M-23 activities
editIn the early part of 2013, Bisimwa condemned the United Nation's decision to deploy a special attack force after M23 briefly captured the city of Goma.[4] In November 2013, the armed group was defeated by the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) backed by the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB). The government forces captured the remaining M23 strongholds.[5] The group declared a ceasefire after a 20-month uprising and Bisimwa announced troop disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration according to terms that he said would be agreed with the government of Congo.[5] He would later claim that his group came under fire after the ceasefire declaration.[6] He also accused the Congolese military of killing suspected M23 members from May 2012 to August 2013.[7] Bisimwa fled to Uganda through the Bunagana border crossing.[citation needed]
Bisimwa is identified as one of the leaders of the new rebel group called M27, which emerged in 2015 and is composed of members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) and M23 defectors.[7]
International Sanctions
editAfter the clashes between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and the Congolese Armed Forced intensified resulting in the capture of Goma, the capital of the North Kivu region, the EU Council moved to impose sanctions on the leadership of the rebellion coalition as well as some top Rwandan political and military officials, supporting the movement, citing recent reports of grave human rights abuses and acts of violence aimed against the civilian population of Goma and other occupied areas in Noth Kivu.[8] Bisimwa as the president of the March 23 Movement was placed on the sanctions list under the EU's DRC sanctions regime, subjecting him to an asset freeze and a travel ban.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kibangula, Trésor (8 March 2013). "RDC – Bertrand Bisimwa, chef politique du M23 : " Nous attendons un projet d'accord de Kinshasa "" [DRC – Bertrand Bisimwa, political leader of the M23: “We are waiting for a draft agreement from Kinshasa”] (in French). Jeune Afrique. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Bertrand Bisimwa, the man leading M23". dailymaverick. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "DR Congo conflict: M23's Bisimwa reject UN force". bbcnews.com. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "DR Congo conflict: M23's Bisimwa reject UN force". BBC News. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
- ^ a b Smith, David. "Congolese M23 rebels surrender". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
- ^ "DR Congo rebels 'wanted ceasefire'". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
- ^ a b Lansford, Tom (2019). Political Handbook of the World 2018-2019, Volume 1. Los Angeles: CQ Press. p. 2019. ISBN 978-1-5443-2712-9.
- ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo: EU lists further nine individuals and one entity". Consilium. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ^ "COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2025/510 of 17 March 2025 implementing Decision 2010/788/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". Official Journal of the European Union.