DR Congo army denies presence of Russian mercenaries

In response to allegations made by a rebel group, the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has denied the existence of militants from the Russian mercenary Wagner Group in the nation.

The M23 rebel organization, which has recently conquered large portions of the country's eastern region, has proven difficult for the army to subdue.

According to reports, the administration invited Russian mercenaries to the province of North Kivu to assist in dealing with the rebel organization.

"Yes, Wagner Group is in the room. M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma told the BBC on Wednesday, "We have proof that we will provide when the time is right.

He further stated that last week, on the Tongo and Nyamilima fronts in the Rutshuru region, they had engaged in combat with a joint squad of the Congolese army and mercenaries.

Major General Sylvain Ekenge, the army's spokesman, has refuted the allegations.

He informed the BBC that "The Wagner gang is not working in DR Congo."

Russian mercenaries are present in the Central African Republic, which borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo and where, in 2021, they assisted in suppressing insurgents.

Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, declared to a gathering in London in October of last year that he would not hire Russian mercenaries to quell rebel activity there.

We don't need to deploy mercenaries, he said, "I know it's fashionable now," according to a quote from the Financial Times.

The unrest in eastern DR Congo has displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes.