Tanzania’s security 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).
ChimpReports has learned that Shebandu was earlier this year picked by Tanzania’s security services at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Shebandu, who was a top strategic advisor to ARC leader Corneille Nangaa, was reportedly traveling for a meeting to raise funds for the armed rebellion fighting President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.
The rebel was then extradited to Kinshasa, DRC where he was interrogated by Congolese military intelligence services.
Shebandu was detained at a military facility until this past Friday night when he was paraded by the government.
Nangaa has since written to Tanzania’s president Samia Hassan Suluhu over Shebandu’s arrest.
“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”, an extract from Naanga’s letter to Suluhu reads in part.
The arrest of Shebandu could undermine the operations of the armed movement.
The rebel is said to have leaked top secrets of the movement including sources of funds and arms.
During a press conference in Kinshasa, the government said Shebandu disclosed that former President Joseph Kabila was among the funders of the armed movement.
Tanzania is among the countries contributing troops to the South African Development Cooperation (SADC) force battling ARC/M23 rebels in Eastern DRC.