AFC/M23 Confirms Open Security Cooperation with Rwanda
The AFC/M23 movement has publicly confirmed that it maintains ongoing security cooperation with Rwanda, stressing that the collaboration is open and conducted in broad daylight, contrary to claims that it is carried out secretly.
The confirmation was made by the Deputy Spokesperson of AFC/M23, Dr. Oscar Balinda, who said there is nothing surprising in Rwanda’s recent acknowledgment of this security cooperation.
His remarks follow statements made last week by Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United States, Mathilde Mukantabana, who confirmed that Rwanda cooperates with AFC/M23 on security matters. She said the cooperation is based on a shared objective of protecting Tutsi communities who have long been targeted by the FDLR and other armed extremist groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), often with the backing of the Congolese army.
Dr. Balinda cited the arrest of Brigadier General Jean Baptiste Gakwerere, the former Secretary-General of the FDLR, who was handed over to Rwanda by AFC/M23 in March 2025, as clear evidence of this cooperation. He said he personally escorted Gakwerere to the border, emphasizing that the handover was conducted openly and not in secrecy.
“When we arrest General Gakwerere and hand him over to Rwanda, isn’t that cooperation?” Balinda asked. “I personally escorted him to the border. Was that done secretly? Wasn’t it done in broad daylight? The cooperation exists because we are fighting the FDLR here. When we capture them, we hand them over to Rwanda after coordinating and informing them. This is done openly.”
He stressed that Ambassador Mukantabana’s remarks were based on facts, noting that such cooperation has long existed and is widely known.
Dr. Balinda also pointed to the frequent cross-border movement of people between Rwanda and the DRC, saying it would be impossible for neighboring countries not to communicate or cooperate on security matters.
“She explained it clearly when she said, ‘We cooperate with AFC/M23 to restore security.’ That is the truth, and it is well known. It is not done secretly,” he said.
He added that AFC/M23 also maintains daily communication with Uganda, noting that it is normal for neighboring entities to remain in contact.
Dr. Balinda further said the movement values having a good neighbor like Rwanda, explaining that when Rwanda secures its borders, AFC/M23 can focus on confronting its enemies without worrying about threats from behind.
He concluded by stating that AFC/M23 supports the implementation of the peace agreements signed between Rwanda and the DRC, expressing readiness to see key provisions—particularly those related to dismantling the FDLR—fully implemented for the sake of regional security.
