The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have rejected allegations by the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels accusing government forces of massacring civilians in eastern DRC, describing the claims as false, provocative, and part of a disinformation campaign.
The rebuttal follows remarks made on June 18, 2026, when M23/AFC leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo addressed the media in Goma City, North Kivu Province, accusing FARDC and its allied forces of killing members of the Banyamulenge community in the Minembwe Highlands. Nangaa also accused President Félix Tshisekedi of undermining the Doha peace process through repeated public statements.
He further claimed that the president’s declaration that government forces would retake Goma and Bukavu amounted to a direct declaration of war, arguing that the stance leaves the rebel coalition with no option but to defend itself. In response, FARDC, through its acting spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mak Monga Ayukayi, dismissed the allegations, saying they form part of an ongoing propaganda campaign by the AFC/M23 coalition, which it says is backed by Rwanda.
The army said the campaign is intended to manipulate public opinion, discredit state institutions, and divert attention from what it described as violations of international humanitarian law and human rights attributed to the rebel group. FARDC further stated that allegations of massacres or targeted persecution of any Congolese community are entirely unfounded. It said the claims come at a time when reports by the United Nations and international human rights organisations have documented serious abuses allegedly committed by the AFC/M23 coalition, including summary executions, killings of civilians, abductions, forced recruitment, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
The military also described the rebel statements as incitement to hatred, warning that such remarks risk undermining national cohesion, public security, and ongoing peace efforts. FARDC added that it would not be distracted by what it termed disinformation campaigns aimed at weakening national resolve in the face of aggression. The renewed exchange of accusations comes as fighting in eastern Congo continues to undermine peace efforts, with both sides accusing each other of violating ceasefire agreements.
The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebellion, allegations denied by both Rwanda and M23/AFC leaders. The rebel movement maintains that its armed campaign is aimed at addressing corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DRC. In early 2025, M23/AFC launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing several strategic towns and heightening fears of a wider regional conflict-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
