Tanzania’s intelligence services apprehended Eric Nkuba Shebandu, a senior leader of Congo River Alliance (ARC), a coalition of various rebel movements in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Shebandu, known for his influential role as a strategic advisor to ARC leader Corneille Nangaa was purportedly enroute to a crucial meeting aimed at garnering support and funds for the armed insurgency challenging President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.
Following his capture, Shebandu was swiftly extradited to Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, where he underwent rigorous interrogation by Congolese military intelligence services, marking the beginning of a tumultuous ordeal.
His detainment within a highly guarded military facility lasted until a recent Friday night when he was dramatically presented by the government, signaling a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
In a bid to address the escalating situation, Nangaa penned a letter to Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan Suluhu expressing grave concerns over Shebandu’s arrest and the implications it holds for their movement.
“The Congo River Alliance expresses to Your Excellency its deep concern about the kidnapping, since January 3, 2024, of one of its political executives in the person of Mr. ERIC NKUBA SHEBANDU (52 years old) at the international airport from Dar es Salaam by Tanzanian immigration officers,” a segment of Nangaa’s missive to Suluhu emphasized.
The apprehension of Shebandu not only poses a threat to the stability of the insurgency but also risks exposing vital operational details including sources of funding and procurement of arms, to the opposing forces.
In a startling revelation during a press conference held in Kinshasa, government officials disclosed that Shebandu had divulged incriminating information, implicating former President Joseph Kabila as a key financier of the rebel faction, further complicating the geopolitical landscape of the region.
Tanzania’s involvement in the conflict as evidenced by its contribution of troops to the South African Development Cooperation (SADC) force combatting ARC/M23 rebels in Eastern DRC underscores the intricate web of alliances and rivalries shaping the trajectory of the conflict raising questions about the broader implications of Shebandu’s arrest on regional stability.
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