AFC/M23 Announces Arrival of More Than 7,500 New Commandos

NORTH KIVU, February 10, 2026 - The M23/AFC coalition, fighting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, says it has added 7,532 newly trained commandos to its ranks following training at the Tshanzu military center in Rutshuru Territory. According to the movement, the recruits underwent extended preparation that included combat techniques and physical engagement training before being deployed toward active front lines in eastern Congo. The group’s military chief, Sultani Makenga, told the new fighters that their predecessors had already defeated coalition forces aligned with the Congolese army, which he claimed included foreign troops, militias and mercenaries. “Your comrades have done a great job on the battlefields. The enemy brought different groups - Burundians, the FDLR and foreign mercenaries - but they were defeated,” he said during the address. Makenga urged the recruits to join ongoing operations and support fighters already engaged in combat, instructing them to maintain discipline and avoid harming civilians or engaging in looting and drug use. “Your comrades are waiting for you. Help liberate people who have suffered for a long time and do not become a burden to them,” he added. The announcement comes as the movement continues expanding its manpower after capturing Goma in January 2025. The group says that in September and October 2025, more than 16,000 fighters graduated from the Tshanzu and Rumangabo camps and were subsequently deployed to combat zones. The reported increase in fighters highlights ongoing militarization in eastern Congo despite repeated diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring stability in the region.