Two senior Congolese generals are standing trial over allegations that they abandoned the city of Bukavu as AFC/M23 fighters launched an offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in early 2025.
The trial began on September 25, 2026, before the High Military Court of the DRC.
The two officers held senior responsibilities in eastern Congo when Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, was seized by AFC/M23 fighters in February 2025.
At the centre of the proceedings is the question of whether the officers responsible for defending the city actually abandoned their positions, and what led government forces to lose control of Bukavu.
Documents from the case obtained by Jeune Afrique point to serious operational and command problems within the Congolese armed forces, known as FARDC, during that period.
The case files also provide details of the situation as AFC/M23 fighters advanced towards Bukavu and describe how some of the soldiers tasked with defending the city eventually left their positions.
The trial could shed further light on the events leading up to and surrounding the fall of Bukavu, as well as the responsibilities of the military officers who were in charge of its defence.
According to Jeune Afrique, the documents offer a closer look at the challenges facing the FARDC in the period before the city was captured