AFC-M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa on Friday, August 7, 2026, visited Rugari in Rutshuru Territory to inspect ongoing rehabilitation works on the Goma–Rutshuru road, a key transport corridor in North Kivu.
Nangaa’s visit focused on the progress of works aimed at restoring the road, which connects Goma with Rutshuru and serves as an important route for the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods.
The road passes through areas that have for years been affected by insecurity and deteriorating infrastructure, making its rehabilitation significant for communities and traders who depend on the route.
The inspection comes as AFC-M23 seeks to demonstrate its ability to administer territories under its control, including through the restoration of basic infrastructure and public services.
Rutshuru is strategically important because of its location along routes linking Goma with northern parts of North Kivu and the Ugandan border. The condition of its roads has a direct impact on local trade and the movement of essential supplies.
The rehabilitation works are therefore being closely watched by residents and businesses in the area, particularly those whose activities depend on reliable road access.
Nangaa’s presence at the site in Rugari also signals the political and administrative importance the AFC-M23 leadership attaches to infrastructure in areas under its control.
The development comes amid continuing political and security tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where AFC-M23 has maintained control over significant territory and remains at the centre of efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
No details were immediately provided on the cost of the rehabilitation project, its completion timeline or the specific sections of the Goma–Rutshuru road covered by the ongoing works. 
