• Security
• Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – 21:30

FARDC’s Strong Response to Systematic Accusations

In an unusually direct statement released Monday evening, the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) addressed recent claims made by AFC/M23 spokespeople regarding alleged persecution of the Banyamulenge community in North and South Kivu provinces. The military leadership, represented by interim spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mak Hazukay Mongba, condemned what they described as a deliberate propaganda effort aimed at undermining state institutions while masking the coalition’s own documented atrocities.

The statement categorically rejected all accusations of genocide, community extermination, or targeted persecution against any Congolese ethnic group, calling such claims “completely unfounded and baseless”. Military officials pointed to multiple United Nations and international human rights reports that have documented extensive violations attributed to the AFC/M23 coalition, including summary executions, civilian massacres, forced recruitment, sexual violence, mass displacements, and other grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

Identity Politics as a Strategic Weapon

FARDC leadership emphasized that the timing of these allegations coincides with credible reports of drone strikes and systematic attacks against civilian populations in eastern DRC territories under AFC/M23 control. Military sources stated that the coalition’s accusations represent a cynical manipulation of ethnic identities designed to artificially divide Congolese communities and weaken national unity.

“These fabricated allegations seek to create artificial divisions between populations in eastern provinces and their compatriots across the country. Such tactics directly serve the political and military objectives of a coalition that has consistently violated ceasefire agreements and international law,” the statement declared.

The military leadership stressed that FARDC represents a national, republican, and inclusive force composed of soldiers from every province, unified in their constitutional mandate to protect all citizens regardless of ethnic background. They reiterated their commitment to defending territorial integrity while warning against any attempts to instrumentalize community identities for political gain.

Humanitarian Crisis and Military Response

FARDC officials highlighted that civilians in eastern provinces remain the primary victims of the ongoing conflict, having endured years of insecurity, forced displacements, and systematic human rights violations linked to coalition activities and allied armed groups. The military emphasized that their operations continue strictly within constitutional parameters to ensure civilian protection and restore peace in affected regions.

“We stand firmly committed to our constitutional duty of defending national sovereignty, protecting populations, and neutralizing hostile forces threatening our security. We will not be distracted by disinformation campaigns or manipulative tactics aimed at weakening national resolve in the face of external aggression,” the statement concluded.

The FARDC’s unusually strong response follows a June 18 press conference in Goma where AFC/M23 leadership, including coalition coordinator Corneille Nangaa, accused Kinshasa of violating ceasefire agreements and accused government forces of using armed drones to target specific communities. Nangaa specifically alleged that military operations aimed to “exterminate the Banyamulenge ethnic group” and questioned their Congolese citizenship.

These latest developments occur against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 coalition, with ongoing hostilities continuing to destabilize eastern DRC provinces despite multiple regional peace initiatives.