Hundreds of young people from Masisi and Sake gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the capture of their hometowns from what they described as the oppressive rule of President Félix Tshisekedi and his allies. The event, attended by AFC-M23 officials, including Vice Governor Willy Manzi, underscored a growing movement of youth aligning with AFC-M23 in pursuit of peace, security, and development.
During the rally, approximately 150 young people from Sake voluntarily pledged their support to AFC-M23, citing the movement’s commitment to ending instability and fostering progress in eastern DRC. A similar event on Tuesday in Bukavu saw senior officials, including Corneille Nangaa, engage with the local population, reaffirming their vision for governance and self-determination.
These rallies are fueling frustration within the Kinshasa regime, which is rapidly losing legitimacy and popular support. Tshisekedi’s government, already grappling with allegations of corruption and human rights abuses, now faces a shifting political landscape as communities increasingly rally behind AFC-M23’s call for change.
With tensions rising, the growing support for AFC-M23 signals a deepening crisis for Kinshasa, whose control over eastern DRC is weakening as more towns embrace the movement’s vision for a new political order.