The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) coalition has announced that it handed over more than 5,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) who had been captured during fighting in eastern DR Congo to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The development was confirmed in a statement released by the AFC/M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, who said the handover took place on March 2, 2026, at the Rugamangabo military camp located in North Kivu Province.
According to the statement, the soldiers were transferred to the Red Cross before being transported to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in an operation overseen by the international humanitarian organization responsible for assisting victims of armed conflict.
AFC/M23 said the move was a humanitarian gesture intended to reduce tensions between the warring parties and to demonstrate respect for international laws governing conduct during armed conflict.
The handover is also part of a broader prisoner exchange arrangement between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 coalition, as outlined in the Doha agreements.
Preparations for the process began in September 2025, with the Red Cross tasked with monitoring and facilitating the release of detainees from both sides as a confidence-building measure.
Under the same framework, AFC/M23 said it expects the Congolese government to release more than 700 of its fighters and supporters currently detained in various prisons across the country for their alleged involvement in the conflict.
While AFC/M23 described the release of the FARDC soldiers as a step toward building trust and easing hostilities, it also accused the Kinshasa government of failing to uphold its commitments.
The statement alleged that the Congolese authorities have not yet agreed to release detainees linked to AFC/M23 and accused government forces of continuing military operations against the group’s positions despite ongoing discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire.
AFC/M23 also called on mediators and friendly nations to closely monitor what it described as violations of the ceasefire commitments by the administration of President Félix Tshisekedi.
Observers following developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo say the release of more than 5,000 captured soldiers could mark an important step toward easing tensions. However, they caution that significant challenges remain, which could still hinder efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
