Throughout history, leadership has always been measured by action, courage, and sacrifice, not by titles or the illusion of power. Great leaders are those who stand with their people in times of trial, not those who hide behind others or rule from a distance. In this critical moment for our people in Kivu and across Congo, it is essential to remind the world and those who pretend to lead that a true king fights beside his people, not behind them.
Today, General Sultani Makenga stands as a living symbol of that principle. A man who has given his life to the cause of justice, dignity, and the defense of his people, Makenga has never ruled from palaces or distant cities. Instead, he has led from the frontlines, sharing the hardships, dangers, and sacrifices of the men and women fighting for a better future under the banner of AFC/M23.
Meanwhile, others false kings and opportunists sit in hidden corners, proclaiming themselves rulers over people they neither understand nor represent. These are men who speak of power, yet have never known the suffering of our communities, men who dream of authority but lack the courage to stand in defense of those they claim to rule.
Now, these very same cowards believe that by capturing General Makenga, they can bring an end to a revolution rooted deep in the hearts of our people. They believe that the capture of a leader will dismantle an entire movement.
To them, we say:Â you may imprison a man, but you can never imprison an idea. You can never imprison the will of a people determined to be free.
For decades, the people of Kivu, the Congolese people, have been abandoned, marginalized, and left to suffer under the weight of violence, exploitation, and betrayal. From foreign militias to corrupt governments, our people have paid the price of greed and indifference.
And yet, we have always resisted. We resisted when the world was silent. We resisted when others abandoned us. We resisted because we knew that no one would save us if we did not fight for ourselves.
General Makenga is a product of that history of resistance. He rose from the pain of his people, carrying on the legacy of those who refused to kneel. He is a soldier for justice, not because he seeks power, but because he could not stand by while his people suffered.
What those who plot in secret fail to understand is that the AFC/M23 movement is not dependent on one man alone It is a people’s movement. It is born from the collective cry for dignity, justice, and safety from mothers who have buried their children, from fathers whose homes have been destroyed, from young people whose futures have been stolen.
Capturing General Makenga will not destroy that spirit it will only strengthen it. It will remind every man and woman why we fight.
Because when leaders stand beside their people, their courage spreads like wildfire. It inspires others to pick up the banner and continue the struggle.
While others hide behind armies and empty words, Makenga has always been at the front, facing bullets, enduring hardship, and sharing in every sacrifice.
Makenga has never hidden. He has never wavered. He has never betrayed the people for personal gain. This is what makes him dangerous to those who would prefer to see our people remain weak and divided because he represents the living spirit of resistance and unity.
To those who think they can destroy us by targeting one man, hear this:
– You cannot kill an idea.
– You cannot silence an entire people.
– You cannot destroy a revolution that is born from generations of suffering and hope.
Your attempts to capture General Makenga will only prove one thing that you fear the strength of a united people.
To all those who believe in justice, who dream of a Kivu and a Congo where our children can grow up without fear, where our lands are free from exploitation and violence, where our voices are heard we say this:
Now is not the time to be silent. Now is not the time to be afraid. Let the example of General Makenga remind us that real leadership means sacrifice. It means standing firm when others run. It means fighting with and for the people.
And to those who dare to call themselves “kings” while hiding behind foreign powers and betrayal know this:
A true king does not wear a crown of gold. He wears a crown of sacrifice, of courage, and of love for his people. Kivu will rise. Congo will rise. The revolution continues.
