In a significant political and military development, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the AFC coalition, and Bertrand Bisimwa, the political head of the M23 armed group, visited the city of Bukavu for the first time since rebel forces took control.
The two leaders were seen in central Bukavu and at the port on Lake Kivu, heavily guarded by M23 fighters. Their arrival was met by a large crowd of residents who hailed them as “Les Libérateurs” (The Liberators), a term signifying their perceived role in freeing the region from the government of President Félix Tshisekedi.
M23 and AFC have positioned themselves as a revolutionary force, aiming to overthrow Tshisekedi’s administration and reshape the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) governance. Their presence in Bukavu underscores the shifting power dynamics in eastern DRC.
For Bisimwa, the visit was particularly symbolic, as he was born in Bukavu and belongs to the Abashi ethnic group. His return to his hometown, after years of exile, appeared to be an emotional moment, reflecting both personal and political significance.
The M23 rebel group captured Bukavu on February 16, 2025, encountering minimal resistance as government forces had already fled. Reports indicate that the retreating Congolese military abandoned weapons and looted civilian property before leaving the city.
Prior to their advance on Bukavu, M23 had seized control of Goma on January 27, 2025, after intense battles against Congolese forces, SADC regional troops, mercenaries, and the FDLR militia. The rebel group’s rapid territorial gains signal a major shift in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
The visit by Nangaa and Bisimwa underscores the growing influence of AFC and M23, raising critical questions about the future of governance in the region and the stability of the Congolese state.
