Walikale: Residents Appeal to AFC/M23 Amid FDLR and Wazalendo Attacks

WALIKALE, North Kivu - December 26, 2025 - Community representatives in Walikale Territory, an area currently under the control of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have issued an appeal to the AFC/M23 coalition, urging the group to take control of the area to protect civilians from ongoing violence.

In a statement released on December 26, the residents’ representatives said the population is exhausted by repeated attacks attributed to the FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and, in some cases, elements of the FARDC.

According to the statement, civilians are facing persistent insecurity, including killings, arson, and human rights abuses, prompting the unusual call for intervention by AFC/M23.

The residents urged the coalition to continue expanding into areas controlled by the Congolese government, saying the objective is to liberate civilians who are being abused and terrorized.

For its part, AFC/M23 claimed that Walikale has become a stronghold for FDLR and Wazalendo fighters, who it accuses of harassing the local population with the support and collaboration of certain FARDC members.

“This situation has left the population without security, exposed to violence, destruction of property, and serious human rights violations,” the group said.

The appeal highlights the deepening security crisis in Walikale, where civilians remain caught between multiple armed actors amid the continuing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.