AFC/M23 Releases Over 5,000 FARDC Soldiers in Humanitarian Gesture Amid Ceasefire Tensions

L’Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) has handed over more than 5,000 soldiers of the Congolese army (FARDC) captured on various battlefronts, in a move the group described as a humanitarian gesture aimed at easing tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, the handover took place on Monday, March 2, at the Rumangabo barracks in North Kivu province. The released soldiers will be transported to Kinshasa under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the process

L’Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) has handed over more than 5,000 soldiers of the Congolese army (FARDC) captured on various battlefronts, in a move the group described as a humanitarian gesture aimed at easing tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, the handover took place on Monday, March 2, at the Rumangabo barracks in North Kivu province. The released soldiers will be transported to Kinshasa under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the process.

“In this humanitarian gesture, the AFC/M23 reaffirms its commitment to respecting the obligations undertaken within the framework of confidence-building measures and contributing to easing tensions, in line with international humanitarian law,” Kanyuka said in a statement on Twitter.

However, the rebel group also criticized the government in Kinshasa for what it called an “obstinate attitude,” accusing authorities of refusing to release detained members of the movement and other individuals allegedly arrested arbitrarily. Kanyuka further accused the government of violating the ceasefire and targeting civilians and their property.

The AFC/M23 called on mediators and international partners to take note of repeated ceasefire violations and warned that “the blood of Congolese shed under Félix Tshisekedi will neither be ignored nor left unpunished,” according to the statement.

https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/2030573793500876919?s=20

The handover comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities in eastern DRC. In September 2025, Kinshasa and AFC/M23 agreed to establish a prisoner exchange mechanism under the Doha Peace Framework, with the ICRC acting as a neutral intermediary. Earlier this year, the two sides also signed a mandate to operationalize a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, which allows MONUSCO and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to verify compliance and report violations.

Despite these measures, tensions remain high. AFC/M23 has accused the Congolese government coalition of drone strikes, artillery attacks, and troop deployments in eastern DRC, highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire on the ground.

Observers say the prisoner release is a significant step in confidence-building, but sustained diplomatic engagement will be required to transform gestures on the battlefield into long-term peace and stability.