The Congo River Alliance / March 23 Movement-AFC/M23 has announced that it has handed over more than 5,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-FARDC, captured during fighting on various fronts to the International Committee of the Red Cross-ICRC.
According to AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the soldiers will be repatriated to Kinshasa under the supervision of the ICRC. The handover ceremony took place at the Rugamabo camp in North Kivu Province.
Kanyuka said the move was a humanitarian gesture aimed at reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to confidence-building measures and efforts to reduce tensions, in line with the principles of international humanitarian law.
He noted that despite what he described as concrete steps by the AFC/M23 toward de-escalation, the government in Kinshasa continues to maintain what he called a hardline position.
Kanyuka also accused authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of refusing to release M23 members and other individuals allegedly detained arbitrarily and arrested based on suspicion or appearance.
He further alleged that Kinshasa continues to violate the ceasefire and has intensified military operations against AFC/M23 positions, actions he claimed have affected civilian populations and their property.
Kanyuka added that the alliance would continue to speak out against what it describes as violations committed during the conflict.
