For over three decades, the people of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have endured untold suffering, caught in a cycle of violence, displacement, and neglect. Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) stands today to remind the world of a reality often distorted or hidden the systematic persecution and marginalization of our communities, fueled by a state apparatus that has abandoned its duty to protect its own citizens.
Note: Company, Blog, Church websites are free.
Contrary to the mainstream narrative that depicts AFC/M23 as a mere “movement group” seeking power, we did not choose war. This war was forced upon us by a regime in Kinshasa that has persistently refused political dialogue, ignored legitimate grievances, and enabled over 200 movement groups to terrorize our people for political and economic gain.
For years, governance failures, corruption, and empty promises have left Eastern Congo in a state of chronic instability. President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo’s government has not only failed to resolve these crises it has perpetuated them, often for personal and political advantage.
Since the liberation of Goma in January 2025, AFC/M23 has made concrete strides in restoring peace, order, and basic human dignity in areas long neglected by the central government.
Goma, once plagued by lawlessness, has seen a return to normal life. Businesses have reopened, schools are functioning, and our forces patrol the streets day and night, ensuring the protection of civilians and their property something the DRC government failed to provide for years.
Contrary to accusations, AFC/M23 strictly upholds the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols, ensuring the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, including hospitals.
Thousands of internally displaced people, previously trapped in dire conditions in camps, have returned to their homes, reclaiming lives and livelihoods that were stripped away for years. Unlike those who profited from endless displacement, AFC/M23 has prioritized the safe and dignified return of these populations.
Water and electricity services long absent under Kinshasa’s neglect have been restored in Goma, providing much-needed relief to a population that has suffered from extreme deprivation.
In areas under our administration, we have ended the ongoing atrocities, including what many have described as a silent genocide. We have stopped hate speech, prevented acts of cannibalism, and promoted peaceful coexistence among communities torn apart by decades of division.
We strongly reject and condemn the false accusations of human rights violations leveled against AFC/M23. For instance, recent allegations of mass rapes of female prisoners are entirely false these atrocities were committed before our presence in Goma, and evidence exists to verify this fact.
Our struggle is not driven by greed or the thirst for power. It is a struggle for survival, justice, and lasting peace. Yet, the Kinshasa regime has continually refused all calls for political dialogue, preferring war over addressing the root causes of conflict.
We believe peace begins with honest dialogue a dialogue that acknowledges the failures of the past and builds a future for all Congolese people, not just a privileged elite in Kinshasa.
We do not pretend that the decades of state failure and violence can be undone overnight. But we are committed to the long and difficult work of building real peace, peace rooted in justice, equality, and the security of all communities.
We call on the international community, media, and civil society to look beyond the biased narratives and see the reality on the ground a reality where AFC/M23 has brought stability where the state has only brought chaos.
Our fight is for peace, and we will not stop until that peace is achieved.
