The men mandated to protect Makenga hang around the buildings, seemingly unsure of what to do with themselves. A group of men just lay face down on the grass, taking a nap. Others oiled their weapons with torn rugs, smoked, cracked jokes and went about their day. However relaxed, their weapons were always within reach. If not for the guns and uniforms, the young men could have been in any of a thousand villages in the DR Congo.
We tried several times to engage the soldiers in conversation, but to no avail. While they readily accepted our cigarettes, they remained taciturn. One soldier in particular seemed to give the others instructions not to talk to us. While our driver stayed behind, we followed a civilian toward a stone platform on top of the hill, where they had already placed four plastic seats and a table. We stood by, stiff with apprehension.
It took Makenga approximately 15 minutes to arrive after his men seemingly concluded that we posed no threat to him. He wore civilian clothes -- black jeans, black shirt and a black jacket -- and his emblematic cap. "Bonjour, Général, ça va?" After a few minutes of small talk, we got down to business.
Born on December 25, 1973, in eastern Congo, Nziramakenga Ruzandiza Emmanuel Sultan aka Sultani Makenga belongs to the Mugogwe sub-ethnic group of the Tutsi community. With his family originating from eastern Masisi, he grew up in Rutshuru territory just north of Goma. In the early 1990s, he joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front to fight the then Hutu-controlled government in neighboring Rwanda. Alternating between the Rwandan and Congolese army as well as several non-state armed groups (RCD-Goma, CNDP, M23), Makenga has spent his entire adult life as a military figure. He eventually acquired various grades, promoted to "Colonel" in the army and "Brigadier General" in M23. With few years of formal schooling, Makenga proved to be rather successful in striking alliances and gaining the trust from influential players in the region.
Albeit awkward, the one-on-one interviews were rather relaxed given that Makenga is accused by the United Nations of "killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction and forced displacement" of civilians in eastern Congo. In the little time we spent with him, we encountered a man starkly different from his public persona. His has an appearance of a reserved, slender, tall man, seemingly too shy to make for an authoritative commander.
Throughout the conversation lasting a total of ninety-minutes, Makenga remained rather reticent, offering only short answers to comprehensive and nuanced questions. He is the character opposite of his political pendant, Bertrand Bisimwa, the political chairman of the rebel movement. Speaking to him for more than three hours in Kampala in late February, Bisimwa is the stereotypical spokesperson -- a bumblebee of a man, animating and upbeat.
One observation was striking: Makenga seemed exhausted, leaning deep -- almost crouching -- into the chair, while his face and eyes remained vivid as if juxtaposed against his fatigue. His entourage surrounded us, and his mannerisms remained limited and slow. Rumors are widespread that his health is deteriorating, and according to Usalama Project Director Jason Stearns, he was "visibly unwell during the M23 advance in 2012."
Slowly, however, Makenga seemed to warm up to us, offering shy smiles and silent laughter. The laughter seemed out of place, given circumstances and the topics of discussion. He received carefully crafted criticism well, even inviting us to offer our views and interpretations of the situation. The laundry list of allegations -- war crimes, the affiliation with International Criminal Court indictee Bosco Ntaganda, exploitation of minerals, the support by Rwanda and Uganda -- he dismissed with a feeble but stern smile.
At times, he allowed his assistant to elaborate on questions about the forthcoming United Nations intervention brigade and the role of new UN Special Envoy Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. Unfortunately, the answers were non-conclusive. He vilified the government and boasted that they had captured Bosco, both grieved about the plight of the populace and offered to be a force for good; however, they offered little in the form of a clear-cut political strategy. Makenga seemed much less aggressive than his movement's official stance. In response to questions on disarmament, security sector reform or land and citizenship issues, Makenga lectured well-rehearsed and well-argued statements.
Following the interview, M23 has stepped up its rhetoric against the forthcoming UN intervention brigade, alarmed in the face of a new potential foe of 3,000 troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi. Allegations abound once again that M23 is receiving external support. All the while, talks with the Congolese government have resumed in Kampala -- with an open end. However reserved, Sultani Makenga remains the leader of M23, canny and authoritative in his command. Shy but determined, he will continue to force his imprint on the future of his country.
