Drc army rebuffs m23’s ethnic cleansing claims in eastern conflict zone

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have issued a strong repudiation against recent statements made by leaders of the politico-military movement AFC/M23. These statements, concerning the security situation in the eastern DRC and allegations of persecution against the Banyamulenge (Tutsi) community, were voiced during a press conference held last week in Goma, the capital of Nord-Kivu province.

In an official communiqué released on Monday, June 22, 2026, and endorsed by Lieutenant-Colonel Mak Hazukay Mongba, interim spokesperson for the FARDC, the Congolese army accused the rebel movement of orchestrating a “campaign of propaganda and disinformation.” This campaign, the FARDC asserts, aims to undermine state institutions and divert attention from the AFC/M23 coalition’s culpability in the ongoing war of aggression against the DRC, as well as the severe violations of international humanitarian law and human rights frequently attributed to them.

According to the FARDC, claims of massacres, exterminations, or targeted persecutions against specific Congolese communities are “entirely unfounded.” The army believes these accusations are designed to obscure the responsibilities placed upon the AFC/M23 coalition in the protracted conflict affecting the eastern DRC.

“The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo unequivocally reject accusations of alleged massacres, exterminations, or persecutions directed against any Congolese community. These allegations are entirely without merit. They emerge despite numerous reports from the United Nations and international human rights organizations documenting grave violations attributed to the RDF-AFC/M23 Coalition, including summary executions, civilian assassinations, kidnappings, forced recruitment, sexual violence, forced displacement of populations, and other serious breaches of international humanitarian law,” the FARDC stated in their communiqué.

The FARDC views these “false” and “cynical” accusations as an attempt to distort reality and shield the coalition from accountability. The army further vehemently condemns what it describes as the RDF-AFC/M23 coalition’s efforts to exploit community identities and linguistic affiliations to sow discord among Congolese citizens.

The Congolese army suggests this campaign is specifically intended to artificially divide populations in the country’s East from their compatriots in other provinces. This tactic, they argue, aims to weaken national cohesion and advance the political and military agendas of the coalition.

“This campaign notably seeks to artificially pit Congolese populations residing in the East against their compatriots from other provinces of the Republic, with the goal of undermining national cohesion and serving the political and military objectives of this coalition. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo reiterate that they are a national, republican, and inclusive army, comprised of Congolese men and women from all provinces of the country,” the FARDC declared.

Furthermore, the FARDC emphasize that the primary victims of the aggression perpetrated by the RDF-AFC/M23 coalition are the Congolese populations living in the eastern provinces. For several years, these communities have endured the direct consequences of insecurity, forced displacements, abuses, and human rights violations linked to the activities of this coalition and its allies.

The FARDC maintains that the suffering endured by these people cannot be exploited to fuel a disinformation campaign or to turn them against their fellow citizens from other parts of the Republic. The army underscores that it is precisely to ensure their protection, guarantee their security, and preserve the nation’s territorial integrity that it continues its operations, in accordance with its constitutional mandate.

“The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo warn against any campaign of propaganda, disinformation, or incitement to hatred likely to jeopardize national cohesion, the safety of populations, and efforts to restore peace in areas affected by the aggression,” they asserted in the document.

They added:

“The FARDC remain fully committed to fulfilling their constitutional mission of defending territorial integrity, protecting populations, and neutralizing any hostile force threatening national sovereignty. They will not be swayed by disinformation campaigns or manipulation attempts designed to weaken national resolve in the face of aggression.”

This latest statement from the FARDC comes amidst persistent tensions between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23, alongside ongoing hostilities in the eastern DRC. On June 18, during a Goma press conference, AFC/M23 officials had accused the Congolese government of repeated ceasefire violations and highlighted a critical humanitarian situation in several areas of Sud-Kivu’s Hauts-Plateaux.

Corneille Nangaa, the AFC/M23 coordinator, specifically attributed this situation to President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration. He claimed that military operations in the region aimed at the extermination of the Banyamulenge community through the use of armed drones, signaling an intent to challenge their belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo.