The AFC/M23 coalition, which opposes the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, announced that it has gained 9,318 new commandos who have spent several months training at the Tchanzu military camp in North Kivu Province.
Military Leaders Preside Over Graduation Ceremony
The ceremony to induct these commandos into AFC/M23 was led by senior military leaders of the coalition, including its Commander-in-Chief, Gen Maj Sultani Makenga, on July 20, 2026.
Makenga Outlines Coalition’s Objectives
Gen Maj Makenga declared that the Congolese government kills civilians in collaboration with forces from Burundi, the FDLR terrorist group, and the Wazalendo coalition. He said AFC/M23 is fighting to stop these killings.
He urged the new commandos to join their comrades on the battlefield to defend civilians and restore peace and security so that displaced people can return home and rebuild their lives.
New Commandos Urged to Uphold Discipline
Makenga explained that their conduct must differ from that of the Congolese army, which he accused of theft, rape, and killing innocent civilians. Instead, he called on them to uphold discipline and good behavior.
He stated:“Let us sacrifice for our brothers, sacrifice for our country, sacrifice for our community. If you do this, it will bring you honor because you will be liberating your country, your brothers, and the Congolese people as a whole.”
He emphasized that AFC/M23’s main goal is to remove bad governance and replace it with good leadership, which requires discipline, self-respect, and respect for civilians.
Coalition Continues to Expand Its Ranks
In September 2025, AFC/M23 had already added 7,437 new commandos, followed by another 9,350 in October of the same year. These included former civilians, ex-soldiers of the Congolese army, and members of Wazalendo who decided to join the coalition.
