M23 Declares It Will Not Leave Goma and Bukavu, Demands Recognition of Its Self-Government

The rebel group AFC/M23 has once again declared that it will not withdraw from the cities of Goma and Bukavu, which it has controlled for several months, despite ongoing peace talks with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Doha, Qatar.

According to sources close to the negotiations, both sides recently received a new draft peace proposal focusing on the “restoration of state authority.” However, M23 representatives have rejected the idea of withdrawing from the territories under their control, insisting that they cannot abandon their homeland.

The group reaffirmed its stance last week, stating that it would maintain control over Goma, Bukavu, and other occupied territories. Instead, it urged Kinshasa to recognize and cooperate with what it described as its self-governing administration in eastern DRC.

M23 captured Goma in late January 2025, followed shortly after by Bukavu. Since then, the movement has established its own administrative structures, appointing governors for North and South Kivu provinces, city mayors, and a local police force.

Speaking in Doha, one of the M23 delegates said,
“We will continue governing the territories we have liberated to ensure peace and development for our people.”

He added that the movement’s administration aims to combat corruption within Kinshasa’s government and to effectively confront armed groups such as the FDLR, which continue to destabilize eastern Congo.

Meanwhile, the Congolese government has denounced M23’s actions as a violation of national sovereignty, accusing the rebels of undermining the country’s unity. Nonetheless, M23 maintains that its governance has improved security and human rights protection in areas under its control.