Goma, DRC – February 10, 2026 – The armed group AFC/M23 has recruited 7,532 new fighters, following the completion of military training at the Tshanzu training camp in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu Province.
The graduation and induction ceremony was held on Sunday, February 8, and was presided over by Maj. Gen. Sultani Makenga, the group’s military commander.
The recruits were formally integrated into the Armée Révolutionnaire Congolaise (ARC), the armed wing of AFC/M23, after completing training aimed at preparing them for combat operations. During the ceremony, the new fighters took an oath pledging allegiance to the movement and its stated objectives.
According to AFC/M23, the recruits underwent intensive training that included combat drills, physical fitness exercises, tactical maneuvers, and self-defense techniques, which were demonstrated during the event.
Addressing the gathering, Gen. Makenga said the movement’s armed wing was established to protect civilians and restore what he described as national dignity. He accused the government in Kinshasa of discrimination, marginalization of certain communities, and failure to meet its political obligations.
Makenga said the formation of AFC/M23 was driven by what he termed persistent abuses and injustices against civilians, which, according to him, forced many residents to flee their homes or leave the country.
He also claimed that fighters already deployed by the group have performed effectively in recent engagements, citing what he described as battlefield successes against government forces and allied armed groups.
AFC/M23 officials said 2025 recorded a notable increase in recruitment, a trend they expect to continue into 2026, amid ongoing insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The development comes as fighting and displacement persist in parts of North Kivu, where armed groups continue to compete for control, further complicating regional security and humanitarian efforts.
