AFC/M23 has issued a strong statement rejecting the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Mission regarding the ongoing conflict in North and South Kivu, accusing international organizations of spreading propaganda to support what it calls the “moribund regime” in Kinshasa.
In its communiqué, AFC/M23 denounced the UN report as “baseless incriminations” that undermine human dignity and distort the defense of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The movement argued that despite multiple clarifications and denials, “certain international organizations persist in propaganda to maintain at all costs a corrupt regime led by an impostor at the head of a failed state.”
The group warned that if this campaign does not stop, it will “assume its full constitutional role” under Article 64, which allows citizens to oppose tyranny, emphasizing that its liberation efforts are widely supported by the Congolese population.
AFC/M23 contrasted what it described as “the savage space ruled by Félix Tshisekedi” with the “liberated territories” under its control, claiming significant improvements in peace, security, and development.
The communiqué accuses international actors of hostility because the movement “restored peace, unity, and initiated development projects” in these areas.
The statement further alleges that President Tshisekedi’s government is the main driver of chaos in the country, citing “hate speech, creation of militias, and arming civilians to fuel ethnic violence.”
It blames Kinshasa for the worsening situation in Uvira, where militia attacks against Banyamulenge communities, killings, and deprivation of basic needs like drinking water have been reported.
AFC/M23 also accused the UN and international bodies of ignoring serious abuses by the government, including:
- Illegal arrest of national deputies in Kinshasa
Travel restrictions on opponents and Swahili-speaking communities - Use of FDLR fighters and the Burundian army alongside FARDC units against civilians
Sexual violence against male and female prisoners in Makala, Ndolo, and Kasapa prisons
Targeted persecution and killings of Swahili-speaking citizens - Financing atrocities through CODECO and ADF militias in Ituri and North Kivu, including massacres of children, women, and the elderly, particularly from Hema and Nande communities
“The AFC/M23 is not concerned by the biased allegations of the UN mission and reserves the right to present a more authentic version of the facts,” the communiqué concludes.
As the conflict intensifies, this sharp rebuttal underscores deepening mistrust between armed groups and international institutions, raising concerns about the humanitarian and security crisis engulfing eastern Congo.