FARDC Launches Operation Against FDLR, Calls for Surrender and Repatriation to Rwanda

KISANGANI, Tshopo March 29, 2026 - The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have officially launched a new operation targeting elements of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan armed group operating in eastern Congo. The announcement was made on Sunday, March 29, at Camp General Bauma in Kisangani by General Jacques Ychaligonza, who oversaw a military parade marking the start of the campaign. The operation aims to identify, disarm, and repatriate FDLR fighters still present on Congolese territory. Addressing troops, General Ychaligonza urged members of the group to surrender, stating that they should lay down their weapons “whether willingly or by force” and return to their country of origin, Rwanda. He emphasized that the operation prioritizes avoiding bloodshed, calling for voluntary surrender and describing Kisangani as a designated reception point for those who give up arms. According to military authorities, a prepared site in the city will host surrendered fighters before their repatriation. The launch follows what the army described as a completed awareness phase aimed at encouraging defections from the FDLR ranks. Military officials said three battalions have already been assigned to the operation and are expected to be deployed in the coming days. General Ychaligonza said the campaign is being conducted within the framework of the Washington Agreement (DRC-Rwanda peace framework), and stressed that international actors are expected to monitor its implementation. He also reassured that surrendered fighters would be treated under supervised conditions before eventual repatriation. Beyond the launch of the operation, the senior FARDC commander held a series of meetings with military leadership in the 3rd Defense Zone and Kisangani garrison officers, focusing on broader security coordination and stabilization efforts in the region. The announcement comes amid ongoing security challenges across eastern DRC, where multiple armed groups remain active despite parallel military and diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring stability.