M23 Rebels Recruit Over 7,400 New Fighters in Eastern DRC
The March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel group fighting against the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has announced the integration of 7,437 new fighters into its ranks after completing a six-month military training program at the Rumangabo military base in North Kivu province.
The official induction ceremony took place on September 14, 2025, and was attended by senior rebel leaders, including Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, head of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and Gen. Maj. Sultani Makenga, the commander of M23.
According to AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the recruits include former members of the Congolese army (FARDC) and fighters from armed groups aligned with the Wazalendo coalition, many of whom defected after M23 captured key cities such as Goma and Uvira earlier this year in January and February.
During the ceremony, Gen. Maj. Makenga told the new fighters that their mission is to “liberate their country” from what he described as the oppressive rule of President Félix Tshisekedi, accusing his government of targeting citizens based on ethnicity, destroying communities, and weakening the national army.
“He has destroyed everything. Even the army has been reduced to a dumping ground,” Makenga said. “Tshisekedi has mixed the military with civilians armed as Wazalendo, with FDLR, with Imbonerakure acting like Interahamwe, and with foreign troops. He values foreign forces more than Congolese soldiers. A leader who does not respect the army does not respect his country and should not continue to lead.”
Makenga urged the new recruits to maintain discipline, respect civilians, and demonstrate moral conduct that distinguishes them from government-aligned forces. He insisted that only through such values could they achieve their goal of liberating Congo.
Earlier this month, Makenga outlined the rebels’ ambition to expand their control to major Congolese cities, including Kalemie (Tanganyika), Kisangani (Tshopo), and Kindu (Maniema). He emphasized that such plans required significant reinforcements, which the new intake is expected to provide.
AFC leader Corneille Nangaa also addressed the recruits, declaring that the M23-AFC coalition’s ambitions go beyond the Kivu region. He claimed their ultimate goal is to capture Lubumbashi (Haut-Katanga), Mbandaka (Equateur), and even Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.
The announcement of thousands of fresh recruits marks a major escalation in the conflict that has destabilized eastern DRC for years. It also raises concerns of further confrontations with the Congolese army (FARDC) and its regional allies, as the M23-AFC coalition signals an intent to expand the war far beyond its traditional strongholds.
