The M23 rebel group has expressed outrage over remarks made by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Health, who referred to its members as “mentally ill.”
On the evening of Monday, July 14, Minister Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba was heard describing AFC/M23 as “insane people controlling parts of North and South Kivu,” during a press conference addressing the recent cholera outbreak in the DRC.
These insulting remarks come at a time when the AFC/M23 coalition and the DRC government are engaged in peace talks in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending a war that has lasted over three years.
AFC/M23’s Executive Secretary, Benjamin Bonimpa, condemned the minister’s statements, saying they reflect a lack of respect and show the Kinshasa government is not truly committed to the peace process.
He said:
“Such disrespectful and insulting words by Kinshasa authorities against members of AFC/M23, at a time when the Doha talks are making great progress toward peace, show that the government is not genuinely interested in this initiative — and we’ve taken note of that.”
The M23 has not yet disclosed what action it might take in response.
