As security challenges intensify in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 movement, has declared its readiness to replace the Congolese national army, which it claims has completely collapsed, according to AFC Coordinator Corneille Nangaa.
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In an interview with Belgian researcher Alaix Destexhe, Corneille Nangaa, the former head of the DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), stated that the Congolese army—Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC)—has irreversibly fallen apart.
In blunt terms, Nangaa said: “The army has already collapsed. There is now a core of a professional military that knows how to fight wars. I commend its Commander-in-Chief and leader, Gen. Sultani Makenga. This is the army of the near future for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Nangaa explained that the AFC/M23 exists for the Congolese people and represents their new hope in facing the country’s deep-rooted problems, including authoritarian rule, killings, and human rights violations.
This statement has sparked heated debate among politicians and security experts. Presenting the AFC as the foundation of a new national army for the DRC signals a dramatic shift in governance and a bold commitment to take over leadership through an already battle-hardened military movement.
Despite the Kinshasa government continuing to accuse AFC/M23 of collaborating with Rwanda and threatening the nation’s sovereignty, Nangaa insists that the AFC is not waging war but rather fighting “to restore peace based on truth, human rights, and the safety of the population.”
He affirmed that the AFC will prioritize the security of civilians, especially in areas plagued by mass killings and atrocities.
He said: “People cry every day because of violence, rape, and looting. The AFC will put an end to all this and restore dignity and safety to the Congolese people.”
This statement comes as the AFC/M23’s military operations continue to expand in North Kivu Province, where the alliance now controls key cities and roads critical to the DRC’s economy.
