Militiamen Surrender in Kwamouth, Dozens of Weapons Turned

Kinshasa, March 22, 2026 - Kwamouth, Kwango - March 15, 2026 - A new surrender of militiamen was reported on March 12 in Kinsele, where sixteen weapons of war were handed over to the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo). The cache included one PKM, ten AK-47s, five 12-gauge shotguns, and ammunition, marking another step in the ongoing disarmament and demobilization process in the region.

The handover ceremony was attended by a delegation from the Minister Delegate for Defense, Eliezer Ntambwe, highlighting the government’s continued efforts to reintegrate former combatants.

The Eleventh Military Region confirmed that several Mobondo fighters participated in the surrender. According to Captain Antony Mualushayi, spokesperson for the FARDC, the fighters and recovered weapons were transferred to Kinshasa to continue the formal demobilization process.

During a broader peacekeeping mission in Kwamouth territory, Minister Eliezer Ntambwe announced the earlier surrender of over 600 Mobondo militiamen, many of whom were sent to Kaniama Kasese to join the National Service. Some of the former fighters expressed interest in military training, though placement at Kaniama Kasese was declared mandatory.

This latest surrender reflects ongoing progress in efforts to stabilize the region and reintegrate armed groups into national structures.