Jean-Marie Runiga

{{Short description|Congolese evangelical bishop and rebel}}

Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero is a Congolese evangelical bishop and the former rebel leader. He served as President of the March 23 Movement (M23),{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/11/20121127144732872886.html|title=M23 rebels set conditions for Goma exit|publisher=aljazeera.net|accessdate=2012-11-27|date=2012-11-27}} a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 2012 to 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/11/201211257659434533.html|title=DR Congo fighters given deadline to exit Goma|publisher=aljazeera.net|accessdate=2012-11-25|date=2012-11-25}} He previously rejected a deadline by a regional summit in Uganda for the M23 movement to withdraw from Goma saying "withdrawal from Goma should not be a prerequisite for talks but rather should come as the result of talks". M23 withdrew from Goma in December following negotiations.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20565711|title=Rebels in DR Congo withdraw from Goma|date=18 December 2012 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=10 December 2012}} He was sacked from the movement after he signed an accord on February 24 pledging to end the conflict.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21642301|title=DR Congo: Army 'seizes' eastern towns held by M23 rebels|publisher=bbcnews.com|accessdate= 3 March 2013|date=2 March 2013}} In a statement signed by M23's military leader, Sultani Makenga, he was accused of treason because of "financial embezzlement, divisions, ethnic hatred, deceit and political immaturity".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21632273|title=DR Congo: Bunagana residents flee M23 clashes to Uganda|publisher=bbcnews.com|accessdate= 3 March 2013|date=1 March 2013}} A faction of the M23 loyal to him, including M23 founder Bosco Ntaganda, has clashed with those loyal to Sultani Makenga.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21578357|title=DR Congo: M23's Makenga and Runiga factions 'clash'|publisher=bbcnews.com|accessdate= 3 March 2013|date=25 February 2013}}