14 Twiraneho Fighters Released to Banyamulenge Community

Kinshasa, March 6, 2026 - The Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Guillaume Ngefa, formally handed over 14 Twiraneho fighters to the Banyamulenge community in Kinshasa on Thursday, March 5, 2026. These fighters, affiliated with the AFC/M23, had voluntarily surrendered to the Congolese army during last December’s fighting for control of Uvira in South Kivu. According to the Ministry of Justice, all necessary checks were conducted to determine whether the individuals were personally involved in any acts warranting criminal charges, in line with the principles of the rule of law. “No individual charges have been brought against them at this stage,” the Ministry reported. The release, carried out in the presence of military justice officials and representatives of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Community Reintegration Program (P-DDR-CS), was welcomed by the Kinshasa Banyamulenge community, who praised the Head of State for his “relentless fight against tribal hate speech.” The Ministry highlighted that the ceremony reflects President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi’s commitment to encouraging all Congolese involved in armed groups to abandon violence and reintegrate into civil life. Twirwaneho, a self-defense militia formed in the late 2000s to protect the Banyamulenge community, is led by Michel Rukunda, alias Makanika. The group, allied with the M23 and AFC, has been accused of human rights violations, including child recruitment, and remains a significant actor in the ongoing Kivu conflicts.