Trial of Gen Philémon Yav Irung Accused of Collaborating with Rwanda

Kinshasa, January 29, 2026 - The Military High Court of the DRC is hearing the case against Gen Philémon Yav Irung, former commander of the 3rd military region covering North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema, and Tshopo, accused of collaborating with the Rwandan government. The prosecution, represented by Lt Gen Lucien-René Likulia, claimed that Gen Yav received a message from Rwandan officials advising him not to advance military operations, including a meeting with Brig Gen Mwehu Lumbu Evariste at the Serena Hotel in Goma. The court confronted the prosecution over a lack of evidence, as Lt Gen Likulia could not produce the alleged message, citing inability to access Gen Yav’s phone. Gen Yav’s lawyer, Me Charles Ngwapitshi, dismissed the claims as rumors, highlighting contradictions in witness testimony and questioning the prosecution’s decision to involve Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, a prominent Rwandan military figure, to lend weight to their case. Key witnesses, including Lt Gen Constant Ndima and Gen Maj Sylvain Ekenge, provided conflicting accounts regarding the origin of the message, with some attributing it to Kabarebe’s advisor, and others unable to confirm. Gen Yav, who was arrested in September 2022 amid ongoing AFC/M23 advances, stated in court on January 21, 2026, that the only message he received accused him and his colleagues of working with the FDLR terrorist group, with the sender still unknown. The trial, which began on December 19, 2025, continues amid questions over the validity of the prosecution’s evidence and the role of regional political actors in the case.