As insecurity continues to plague the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reports from the Mikenke area confirm the arrest of a young woman suspected of espionage and sent on a mission to assassinate Brigadier General Charles Sematama, the leader of Twirwaneho known for defending the Banyamulenge community.
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The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was apprehended in Mikenke Center while trying to obtain General Sematama’s phone number by approaching Twirwaneho soldiers.
Sources at the scene report that she used one of the women who regularly supplies Twirwaneho soldiers with provisions, promising her $500 in exchange for the general’s number.
The woman, growing suspicious, informed some Twirwaneho soldiers, who then set a trap that led to the suspect’s capture and interrogation.
During questioning, the suspect admitted to having spent time at a military camp shared by Burundi’s army and the Congolese national army (FARDC), located at Colonel Nyamusaraba’s base. She confirmed that they were the ones who sent her.
This implies that the Congolese government forces (FARDC) and the Burundian military may be behind the plot to assassinate Sematama, the man who replaced General Michel Rukunda, alias Makanika, who was killed in February this year in a drone strike launched by FARDC.
Makanika, who once led Twirwaneho, was a key Banyamulenge military leader known for resisting oppression and defending the rights of his ethnic group. After his death, Twirwaneho publicly announced its alliance with the AFC coalition, which includes the M23.
General Sematama now commands the Banyamulenge forces within the AFC, which may explain why he is likely on a hit list targeted by the Kinshasa government and its regional allies.
This attempted assassination appears to be part of an intelligence-driven campaign aimed at weakening Twirwaneho and hindering its collaboration with M23 under the AFC umbrella.
However, it seems the plan failed, further highlighting the growing presence of military and intelligence operations in South Kivu province.
