Kinshasa: An international arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for M23 rebel group chief Corneille Nangaa by the military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to state media. Nangaa, who previously served as the president of the Electoral Commission and now leads the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23, is facing charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and insurrection.

According to Anadolu Agency, Nangaa was sentenced to death in August for similar crimes committed by the M23 rebels in North Kivu province in November 2021. The report alleges that with the backing of Rwanda, Nangaa has carried out massacres in North Kivu and more recently in South Kivu, which constitute crimes under both Congolese and international law.

The court has ordered that Nangaa be arrested wherever he may be found and brought back to Congolese territory. A warrant has also been issued for Jean-Jacques Mamba, a former member of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo and national deputy for the Lukunga district, who joined the AFC rebel movement after losing the December 2023 elections.

Recent violence in Goma erupted when the M23 launched a significant offensive against government forces two weeks ago, displacing thousands. Many have fled to neighboring Rwanda, including staff from international organizations such as the UN and the World Bank. Approximately 2,900 people have been killed in violent clashes between the M23 rebels and Congolese forces in the eastern city of Goma.

The M23 declared a ceasefire on Monday after battling the Congolese army for control of Goma. Despite this unilateral ceasefire, intense fighting resumed on Wednesday between the M23 and the army, with reports indicating that the rebels have seized the city of Nyabibwe. Kinshasa has dismissed the M23's ceasefire declaration as a "lie" and has vowed to reclaim Goma.