In a significant development within the framework of the ongoing Doha mediation efforts, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the M23 rebel movement have officially submitted a list of more than 700 individuals they claim are political and military prisoners to Qatar’s facilitation team.
According to representatives of the AFC and M23, these individuals were arbitrarily detained by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in what they describe as a politically motivated crackdown. The groups allege that those listed were primarily targeted due to their affiliations with Christophe Baseane Nangaa, the former governor of Haut-Uélé and brother of Corneille Nangaa, the ex-president of the DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and a current member of the Sacred Union coalition.
In a statement issued this week, the movements expressed skepticism over recent releases of detainees announced by President Félix Tshisekedi. “Those who were freed are not the ones we recognize as our members. The releases are merely a facade, a smokescreen for international observers,” the statement read.
This accusation comes amid rising tensions in the eastern DRC, where chronic instability continues to plague the provinces. A complex web of armed group activities, local political rivalries, and cross-border dynamics has left millions affected by insecurity and displacement.
The mediation initiative led by Qatar, supported by regional and international actors, seeks to ease hostilities and promote dialogue among conflicting parties in the region. The AFC and M23’s prisoner demand is likely to become a central issue in the ongoing negotiations.
