Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, leader of the opposition coalition AFC/M23, has claimed that all Congolese citizens are effectively members of his movement, which seeks to overthrow the current government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In an interview with independent journalist Steve Wembi, Nangaa stated, “All Congolese are members of AFC/M23. The revolution is ongoing. Today, there is no Congolese who isn’t anticipating our rise—from Mbuji-Mayi to Lubumbashi, Kisangani, everywhere they are waiting for us.”
Nangaa highlighted what he called a major security improvement in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, which he credited to AFC/M23’s presence. He noted that just a few months ago, the city was plagued by instability.
“From November 2024 to January, there wasn’t a week without panic,” he said. “Today in Goma, people sleep peacefully. You can go out at night, even to nightclubs. Life has returned to normal.”
Despite these claims, Nangaa criticized the Congolese government for halting banking services in Goma and Bukavu following the takeover of the cities by AFC/M23 fighters. He argued that such measures are not tactics of war, but rather violations of international law.
“Let the world know, let humanity know, that freezing the funds of Kivu residents is not a military tactic—it is a war crime,” Nangaa declared.
In response to the financial crisis caused by the suspension of bank operations, the AFC/M23 has reportedly established a community fund. This fund will serve as a local banking alternative for residents of North and South Kivu, offering services like deposits, withdrawals, and small loans.
This bold initiative underscores AFC/M23’s efforts to present itself not just as a rebel movement, but as a de facto governing force in eastern DRC.
