Armed militia groups operating in eastern DRC will do anything for money and, knowing that, Kinshasa is paying any willing militia group to do its dirty work; fighting the M23 rebels.

The only way to defeat the rebels is by paying hefty amounts to anyone willing to risk their lives to fight the rebels.

According to a source that preferred anonymity, in early November, under the instructions of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, the military governor of North Kivu, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, convened commanders of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, in Goma, for an operational meeting.

The military commanders of the Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR and RUD Urunana, as well as commanders of APCLS, Wazalendo, Mai Mai, among others, were all in attendance. On top of the agenda of the meeting was the organization of joint operations against the M23 rebels.

The source revealed that Gen Cirimwami offered $1,500, each, to all the militia groups commanders for each operation they would lead against the M23 rebels. Additionally, a sum of $125 will be given to all their fighters, as bonus payment for killing any rebel.

Additionally, Gen Cirimwami said that on top of the money, the DRC government established what he called ‘Armed Groups’ Supply Centers’. Arms, ammunitions, and foodstuffs will be collected from these centers. The centers were established in Mushaki, Kitchanga, Mweso, Kibilizi, Rwindi and Kibati. All these incentives are expected to boost morale of the militias, and motivate more armed groups in joining the fight against the M23.

The armed groups’ commanders were also ‘assured’ that they will be backed up by European mercenaries, Burundian soldiers and FARDC special forces.

Since October 1, Congolese soldiers, local militia and Wazalendo, started fighting the M23 rebels, in violation of a ceasefire established by the EAC-led Nairobi peace process and Luanda peace initiatives.

In addition to the fighting, houses of Congolese Tutsi communities were set on fire by the government coalition, which also killed unarmed civilians and looted their property.

As the situation worsened, the M23 rebels took up arms again to defend the Congolese Tutsi community which was being persecuted, and to defend themselves against the attacks coordinated by their own government.

The renewed fighting reportedly resulted into heavy losses for the Congolese army and its coalition allies.

Related: DRC: Tshisekedi using armed groups to revive M23 war

Kinshasa is desperate and ready to invest any amount of money into these armed but grossly abusive militias as long as they can promise to defeat the M23 rebels.

Regional political commentators argue that this is a careless move from the DRC government. First, Congolese people are living in dire poverty, and this could see more civilians dying in this war funded by their own government, for the sake of money.

The money will motivate more people to join militia groups, as fighting and killing Tutsi Congolese will be considered as ‘decent wage’ opportunity.

Second, this reinforces Kinshasa’s refusal for a political solution in solving the M23 rebels’ situation.

Related: Why the M23 rebels are fighting

Since their resurgence in November 2021, the M23 rebel group has asked their government to solve their grievances; protecting Congolese Tutsi from being persecuted and killed, integrating rebel fighters into the national army, and allowing all Congolese refugees living in exile to return home.

Kinshasa has failed to dialogue with the rebels, and is instead investing more money in fighting them, which in return sows more chaos, death and an influx of refugees to neighboring countries, effectively making the security crisis worse.

Regional leaders advised Tshisekedi to resort to a political solutions, rather than the military option, to no avail.