The AFC-M23 rebel group, operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing significant internal tensions and power struggles. According to reports, the group's leadership is divided, with some members seeking to challenge the authority of Sultani Makenga, the military chief. This infighting comes at a time when the group is under increased military pressure from the Congolese government and its allies.
The tensions within AFC-M23 are reportedly centered on issues of power, influence, and resource control. A proposed reorganization of the group's leadership, which aimed to reduce Makenga's influence, was discovered and thwarted. The plan allegedly involved replacing Makenga with Baudouin Ngaruye as the military commander. Additionally, other key figures, including Jean-Marie Runiga and Théo Binamungu, were reportedly considered for prominent roles.
The internal power struggle within AFC-M23 has led to the arrest and interrogation of several high-ranking officials. François Kazarama, an officer detained by the group since 2025, provided crucial information that helped uncover the plot. John Imani Nzenze, a senior intelligence officer, has been leading the interrogations, which have implicated several senior officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Séraphin Mirindi and Colonel Josué Biyoyo Karhanga.
The situation within AFC-M23 has also raised concerns about the security of Corneille Nangaa, the group's political coordinator. Nangaa's position is reportedly fragile due to tensions between the group's political and military wings. The rivalry between Makenga and Nangaa has significant implications for the group's unity and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the Congolese military, supported by the Wazalendo self-defense groups, has made significant gains on the battlefield. In the Masisi territory, government forces recaptured the strategic hill of Miko on September 15, followed by other key locations. The military has also reported neutralizing 14 rebel fighters, injuring 13, and recovering eight weapons in a recent operation.
The renewed military pressure has resulted in significant humanitarian costs, with villages being burned, crops destroyed, and new displacement of families. In Remeka, residents who had just returned to their homes were forced to flee again due to renewed fighting.
According to Willy Mishiki Buhini, a national deputy, the Wazalendo and FARDC forces are now just 12 kilometers from Goma, a key city in the region. The deputy stated that the government forces are advancing from Remeka towards Ngungu, Rubaya, and Minova, posing a significant threat to the AFC-M23's control of the area.
Key points
- Infighting and power struggles are plaguing the AFC-M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- The group's leadership is divided, with some members seeking to challenge the authority of Sultani Makenga, the military chief.
- The Congolese military, supported by the Wazalendo self-defense groups, has made significant gains on the battlefield, threatening the AFC-M23's control of the region.
