Gen. Makenga Reveals What He Says Was Planned Against the Banyamulenge: Why AFC/M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho Say They Took Up Arms to Defend Them
MINEMBWE CAPITAL NEWS (MCN)
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) announced that 9,318 newly trained soldiers have graduated from an intensive commando training program during a ceremony held in Tchanzy, North Kivu Province, on July 20, 2026. According to the movement’s leadership, these troops will strengthen ongoing security operations and help protect civilians living in areas under AFC/M23 control.
The ceremony also featured remarks by the Commander-in-Chief of the AFC/M23 armed forces, Gen. Sultan Makenga, who addressed the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and explained why the movement says it decided to cooperate with MRDP-Twirwaneho.
In his speech, Gen. Makenga stated that, according to AFC/M23, the coalition composed of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the Burundian National Defence Force, Wazalendo militias, and the FDLR had allegedly planned to eliminate the Banyamulenge community as well as the forces defending them.
He said that MRDP-Twirwaneho decided to take up arms in order to defend Banyamulenge civilians after concluding that their lives were under serious threat.
Gen. Makenga further stated that AFC/M23 chose to support MRDP-Twirwaneho because, according to him, the coalition of FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo, and the FDLR possessed overwhelming military strength, making it necessary to assist in protecting the civilian population.
He added that the cooperation between AFC/M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho has, in their view, significantly changed the security situation in parts of South Kivu Province, particularly in Minembwe and other areas inhabited by the Banyamulenge community.
Gen. Makenga also reiterated that, according to AFC/M23, Banyamulenge civilians are now safer than before as a result of the movement’s military operations and its cooperation with MRDP-Twirwaneho. He said the alliance’s objective remains the protection of civilians and the prevention of any activities that could undermine security.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for AFC/M23, described the graduation of the 9,318 new commandos as a major milestone in strengthening the capabilities of the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC – Armée Révolutionnaire Congolaise).
Kanyuka said the recruits had undergone several months of rigorous commando training and had successfully completed the program, making them ready to carry out their mission of protecting civilians and supporting military operations in territories controlled by AFC/M23.
To demonstrate the skills they had acquired, the newly graduated commandos performed a series of military exercises, including hand-to-hand combat techniques, rapid weapon assembly and disassembly, live-fire marksmanship demonstrations, and other advanced commando drills showcasing the level of training they had received.
The development comes as the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a major regional and international concern, with different parties continuing to present conflicting accounts regarding the root causes of the conflict and the most appropriate path toward its resolution.
