M23/AFC rebels say they’re ready to release captured FARDC soldiers, with registration for release process underway in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“Soldiers who wish to return to Kinshasa can register to begin the release process,” M23/AFC Chief of Staff Major General Sultani Makenga said in a statement.
The move follows the capture of hundreds of FARDC soldiers and Wazalendo fighters during the fall of Goma city in January 2025. Makenga urged affected soldiers to register without fear, describing the move as part of the peace process. He added that soldiers who wish to join M23/AFC are free to do so.
The Congolese government hasn’t reacted to Makenga’s statement, but FARDC authorities recently paraded seven individuals, described as Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) soldiers, allegedly captured on the front lines. Lt Col Mak Hazukay accused Rwanda of deliberately violating the Washington Agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 2773, saying the arrests prove Rwandan troops are on Congolese soil.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, rejected the accusations, calling them a “hoax”. He said no RDF soldiers have been arrested on Congolese territory and denied any Rwandan military presence in eastern Congo.
Nduhungirehe stated that one of the accused individuals had previously been presented as an RDF soldier, but questioned the authenticity of the claim. He accused FARDC of attempting to divert attention from hate speech allegedly made by FARDC spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge, targeting the Tutsi ethnic group.
The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, claims denied by Kigali and the group. M23 says its objective is to fight corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DRC’s political leadership. The conflict has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.