AFC/M23 Names Parallel Justice and Human Rights Department Chiefs

Goma, North Kivu, August 7, 2026 - In a significant move against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with the Kinshasa government, the AFC/M23 rebellion announced the appointment of new leaders for their justice and human rights departments. On August 6, Me Jean-Philippe Chubaka Mashamba was named head of the department, with Me Jean-Paul Shaka overseeing judicial reforms and Me Emmanuel Tibasima Mugisa focusing on human rights. This announcement reflects the group's efforts to establish a parallel governance structure in the territories they control.

The appointments come in the wake of the Justice Revival Commission (CRJ), which in November 2025 reported the integration of 378 magistrates in areas held by the AFC/M23. This integration has been met with resistance from the Kinshasa authorities, who have previously declared the judicial acts of the rebel group void. In September 2025, the president of the Supreme Council of Magistracy (CSM) and the Constitutional Court, Kamuleta, asserted that only the CSM has the authority to recruit and manage magistrates across the nation. In response, Justice Minister Ngefa announced intentions to issue an ordinance that would nullify the judicial decisions made by the AFC/M23.

The establishment of these departments by the AFC/M23 is seen as an attempt to legitimize their governance in the regions they control, despite the legal challenges posed by the central government. The implications of these appointments could further complicate the already strained relations between the rebel group and the Congolese state, as the AFC/M23 seeks to assert its authority in the face of opposition from Kinshasa.