The AFC/M23 rebel movement has accused Congolese government forces of killing four of its members in South Kivu province, branding the act an "assassination" and a demonstration of the Kinshasa regime's "warlike intentions." The allegation strikes a severe blow to fragile regional peace efforts, including newly announced talks in Doha, Qatar.
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka detailed the incident: “On July 12, 2025, these forces assassinated four of our compatriots from the Cirunga grouping. These acts clearly demonstrate this regime's disinterest in the ongoing talks and its warlike intentions.”
L’Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) alerte la communauté nationale et internationale sur les massacres persistants perpétrés par les forces coalisées du régime de Kinshasa, ainsi que sur le déploiement de ses troupes et armes lourdes à proximité de nos positions. Le 12 juillet…
— Lawrence KANYUKA (@LawrenceKanyuka) July 14, 2025
Kanyuka further alerted the "national and international community" to what he described as "persistent massacres perpetrated by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime," alongside the deployment of government troops and heavy weaponry near rebel positions.
The accusation comes at a critical juncture. It follows closely the announcement of a new round of peace talks scheduled between AFC/M23 and the Congolese government in Doha. These talks are intended to build upon the June 17 peace agreement brokered between the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Washington, aimed at easing tensions in the conflict-ridden eastern DRC.
Despite these international and regional initiatives, AFC/M23 asserts that Kinshasa's actions betray a lack of commitment to peace. The group cited several alleged violations by the government coalition, including a recent attack on a humanitarian aid plane in South Kivu. According to the rebels, the plane, delivering essential food and medical supplies to civilians shortly after the Washington agreement was signed, was bombed in what they termed a "barbaric" attack.
M23 attributed this attack, and the alleged killings near Cirunga, to a coalition involving Congolese government forces (FARDC), the Burundian army (FDNB), the Rwandan FDLR militia (labeled "genocidal" by the rebels), and the Congolese Wazalendo militia.
While reiterating its own stated commitment to a peaceful resolution, AFC/M23 accused the Congolese government of actively obstructing the path to the Doha talks. The rebels claim Kinshasa has failed to implement crucial confidence-building measures essential for fostering meaningful dialogue.
"The AFC/M23 is waiting for Kinshasa to fulfill trust-building measures, which are essential to facilitate meaningful dialogue," the statement emphasized.
Kanyuka concluded with a warning, condemning the continued deployment of government forces with heavy weaponry near M23 positions and accusing Kinshasa of orchestrating massacres through its coalition partners. The accusations deepen the mistrust surrounding the upcoming Doha negotiations and raise fears of renewed escalation in eastern Congo's long-running conflict.
