Sultani Makenga head of M23 missing?
Introduction
Sultani Makenga, the longtime military leader of the M23 rebel group, has not been seen in Goma since the group captured the city on February 1, 2025. Instead, Corneille Nangaa – a former Congolese electoral official with no ethnic Tutsi ties – emerged as the group’s new public leader during a press conference at Goma’s Serena Hotel. This leadership shift reflects M23’s rebranding effort to portray itself as a Congolese nationalist movement rather than a Rwanda-backed Tutsi militia.
Key evidence of Makenga’s absence:
No public appearances
He was sanctioned by both the U.S. and UN, typically led military operations but was conspicuously absent during the Goma takeover.
Leadership transition
Nangaa now heads the expanded Congo River Alliance coalition, which absorbed Makenga’s M23 in 2023.
Operational patterns
UN reports note Makenga’s previous movements between Rwanda and Uganda for meetings, but no recent sightings in Congo.
Conclusion
While Makenga’s exact whereabouts remain unclear, his disappearance from frontline operations coincides with M23’s strategic pivot toward political legitimacy under Nangaa’s leadership.
Analysts suggest this reflects Rwanda’s evolving strategy to create a “deniable but powerful Congolese front”, with Makenga potentially maintaining behind-the-scenes military coordination.
Second and most probable reason is Sultani Makenga has been execute under a conspiracy theory
