The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has released 15 fighters belonging to the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC), with the transfer facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The 15 are among hundreds of M23/AFC fighters who had been detained by the Congolese government after being captured during fighting in North and South Kivu provinces. Others were arrested in government-controlled areas on allegations of spying.
Under the ongoing Doha peace process in Qatar, both the DRC government and the M23/AFC signed the Doha Mechanism in September 2025, committing themselves to the release of prisoners of war and other confidence-building measures.
However, implementation stalled after the M23/AFC declared its readiness to release hundreds of detainees while the Congolese government declined the proposal, arguing that some of the prisoners could be used as infiltrators. Kinshasa also delayed releasing detained M23/AFC fighters without publicly explaining the reasons.
In a statement issued on Friday, Stephanie Eller, Head of ICRC Operations in Kinshasa, confirmed that the Congolese authorities had released the 15 fighters.
According to the statement, the released fighters were handed over to the ICRC in Beni Territory on Thursday, August 6, 2026. They were then transported in an ICRC convoy through Uganda before arriving in Rutshuru Territory on Friday morning, where they were formally handed over to M23/AFC representatives.
“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transport of 15 people released by Congolese authorities and their handover to the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) from August 6 to 7, 2026. This operation was part of the Doha Mechanism signed by the parties in September 2025. The 15 individuals involved, all of whom agreed to participate in the operation, left Beni, in northern North Kivu, by convoy on the evening of August 6.
On the morning of August 7, after transiting through Uganda, which had agreed to facilitate their passage through its territory, the convoy reached the Rutshuru territory in the south of the province, where the released individuals were handed over to the AFC/M23″, reads the statement.
The ICRC said all 15 individuals voluntarily agreed to participate in the operation. The convoy departed Beni on the evening of August 6 and, after transiting through Uganda, which had agreed to facilitate safe passage, arrived in Rutshuru Territory on the morning of August 7, where the former detainees were handed over to the rebel movement.
Eller says the operation was carried out in close coordination with the relevant health authorities and complied with Ebola prevention protocols. A Uganda Red Cross ambulance was also deployed to respond to any medical emergencies during the transfer. Eller says the ICRC hopes that the release will reunite families separated by the conflict and encourage further prisoner releases under the Doha peace process.
“We hope that this operation will help to bring peace to families long separated from their loved ones and pave the way for further releases, as agreed upon by the parties in various negotiations, to bring some hope to populations affected by armed conflict. Within the framework of the Doha Process, the ICRC acts exclusively as a neutral intermediary, requested by the parties to facilitate the implementation of measures concerning, in particular, the safe transport and handover of persons released by the parties”, adds the statement.
Eller emphasized that, within the framework of the Doha Process, the ICRC serves solely as a neutral intermediary, acting at the request of both parties to facilitate the safe transport and handover of released persons.
Neither the Congolese government nor the M23/AFC had independently issued statements confirming the release by Friday. Meanwhile, the M23/AFC has continued strengthening its administrative structures in areas under its control.
This week, the movement appointed Maître Cubaka Mashamba Jean-Philippe as Head of the Department of Justice and Human Rights, Jean-Paul Shyaka as Deputy Head in charge of Judicial Reforms, and Emmanuel Mugisa Tibasima as Deputy Head responsible for Human Rights.
On Thursday, the newly appointed officials met senior AFC/M23 leaders, including Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, Bertrand Bisimwa and Erasto Bahati Musanga in Goma City, where they pledged to advance judicial reforms, human rights and the movement’s conflict-resolution programme in territories under its control.
The conflict between the M23 rebels, led militarily by Major General Sultani Emmanuel Makenga and politically by Bertrand Bisimwa, and the Congolese government intensified in March 2022. Since then, the rebels have captured and continue to control large parts of North Kivu Province.
In August 2024, M23 formally allied with Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo’s Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), broadening the movement’s political and military structure.
The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, allegations that have consistently been denied by both the Rwandan government and the rebel movement. The AFC/M23 maintains that its armed campaign is aimed at ending corruption, discrimination and xenophobia in the Democratic Republic of Congo-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
