The Alliance Fleuve Congo–March 23 Movement (AFC-M23) has announced a restructuring of its Justice and Human Rights Department through an official decision signed in Goma on August 5, 2026. According to the document issued by the alliance’s leadership, the appointments are intended to strengthen judicial administration and expand access to justice in areas under the movement’s control. The decision states that the reorganization is based on the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the AFC-M23 founding charter, previous organizational decisions, and recommendations from a commission established to oversee the relaunch of the justice system in territories administered by the alliance.
Under the new appointments, attorney Jean-Philippe Chubaka Mashamba has been designated and approved as Head of the Justice and Human Rights Department. He will be supported by two deputy department heads with distinct responsibilities. Attorney Jean-Paul Shyaka has been appointed Deputy Head in charge of Judicial Reforms, while attorney Emmanuel Mugisa Tibasima will serve as Deputy Head responsible for Human Rights. The decision also revokes any previous provisions that conflict with the newly adopted appointments and directs the alliance’s Permanent Secretary to oversee its implementation with immediate effect.
The official document explains that the appointments were made in response to what the alliance describes as the need to improve equitable access to justice, reinforce social cohesion, and respond to requests from local communities for a more effective judicial system. It further states that justice is regarded as a fundamental pillar for stability, fairness, and societal progress, emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutions responsible for legal administration in the territories where the alliance exercises authority.
In the decision, AFC-M23 leadership said the appointments form part of broader efforts to reinforce the administration of justice and improve institutional capacity. “Justice is the fundamental pillar of every society that aspires to stability, equity, and progress,” the decision states, adding that the measures are intended to promote equal access to justice while supporting reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among communities. Bertrand Bisimwa, identified in the document as President of M23 and Deputy Coordinator of AFC for Political, Administrative, Legal, and Diplomatic Affairs, signed the decision, while political coordinator Corneille Nangaa approved the appointments, underscoring the alliance’s intention to continue developing its administrative structures.
