Rwanda Confirms Security Coordination with AFC/M23 in Eastern DRC

Kinshasa/Washington, January 23, 2026 - For the first time, Rwanda has officially acknowledged coordinating with the AFC/M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kigali frames this collaboration as a defensive measure, aimed at protecting Tutsi populations in the region and preventing any resurgence of genocidal violence. In a statement addressed to the U.S. Congress on January 22, Rwandan Ambassador to the United States Mathilde Mukantabana said the partnership also facilitated the unilateral withdrawal of AFC/M23 forces from the city of Uvira, signaling the rebel group’s commitment to de-escalation. “Following the escalation, the AFC/M23, with the support of my government, recently carried out a unilateral withdrawal from Uvira, demonstrating its commitment to reducing tensions,” the ambassador said. Mukantabana outlined the framework of the collaboration, emphasizing that while Rwanda and AFC/M23 share a common interest in protecting Tutsi communities from the FDLR and other armed groups, Rwanda’s involvement is strictly defensive, conditional, and temporary. She stressed that Rwanda does not seek to influence the internal politics of the DRC. The statement also recalled the historical context of insecurity in the region, including the legacy of the Abacengezi insurgency and the FDLR, responsible for massacres since 1994. “The memory of genocide survivors, the graves of a million victims, and the documented history of the Abacengezi insurgency compel us to maintain defensive capabilities until credible security guarantees are established,” the ambassador noted. Kigali further assured that cooperation with AFC/M23 will gradually end once security conditions improve and the FDLR are neutralized, in line with agreements brokered through the Washington peace process.