The statement was issued by the coalition's political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, who addressed journalists in Goma alongside senior M23 figures Bertrand Bisimwa and Freddy Kaniki, just hours after rebel forces made their deepest advance in South Kivu since February.
'No functioning authority in the DRC'
Nangaa condemned what he described as daily confrontations driven by discriminatory notions of 'natives' and 'non-natives', accusing government forces of treating sections of the Congolese population, particularly Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, as 'second-class citizens' denied basic rights.
He claimed Kinshasa had shown 'total irresponsibility', arguing that the state had collapsed to the point that no real authority existed in the country.
'For several months now, the M23/AFCM has repeatedly asked for the signing and full implementation of a ceasefire under international supervision,' Nangaa said. 'Far from being a sign of weakness, this call reflects our concern for civilians and the humanitarian suffering they face.'
31 ceasefire breaches
According to the movement's account, the Congolese army (FARDC), supported by regional militia groups and Burundian troops, violated the ceasefire at least 31 times between July and November 2025. The alleged breaches occurred despite commitments outlined in the Joint Communiqué of April 24, the Doha Principles Declaration of July 19, and subsequent monitoring mechanisms.
Among the incidents cited, the M23 said Burundian troops were deployed on July 17 2025, to Ndunguye and Baraka alongside FARDC and allied militias, sparking offensives across Masisi, Kirumba, Kaina, Gifuru, and neighbouring areas. Between 21 and 23 July, coordinated attacks were carried out in Uvira's Hauts Plateaux, Fizi, Baraka, Masisi, and Rutshuru, with FARDC allegedly operating alongside the FDLR and other militia groups.
Humanitarian crisis in Minembwe
The group further condemned an 'unacceptable humanitarian blockade' imposed on the Banyamulenge community in Minembwe.
Nangaa stated that FARDC, FDLR elements, and allied militias had effectively isolated the population since February, cutting off essential supplies including food, fuel, medicine, salt and soap.
Minembwe, he said, had suffered more than ten bombings this year alone, including a strike on 19 February that killed General Michel Makanika and another attack on a humanitarian aircraft in June.
He also denounced a December 6 attack in which four women were reportedly killed while attempting to bypass the blockade to buy vegetables. Others were abducted, and many remain missing.
'A coordinated and methodical war'
The movement accuses Kinshasa of escalating a 'methodical' offensive across Masisi, Rutshuru, Tongo, Kanyabayonga, Sake and other hotspots, resulting in more than a hundred civilian deaths and mass displacement.
The rebel coalition blamed Burundi for 'directly engaging in an unjustifiable war' by deploying troops inside DR Congo and launching strikes from Burundian territory.
Coalition of foreign fighters
The group reiterated that FARDC operates alongside a wide coalition comprising the FDLR, Mai-Mai groups, Burundian armed elements and foreign mercenaries from Romania, Colombia and parts of Europe.
The group maintained that its forces remained in a 'strictly defensive posture', though it reserved the right to neutralise threats under 'legitimate self-defence'.
The AFC/M23 called on the UN Security Council, the African Union, the United States, Qatar, Togo and Great Lakes governments to recognise Kinshasa's refusal to establish a humanitarian safe zone, which the rebels say they have repeatedly proposed.
Despite the accusations, Nangaa insisted that the movement remained committed to peace, civilian protection and dialogue.
'Despite the severity of the situation, the M23/AFCM remains committed to peace, to protecting civilians, to respecting international obligations, and to engaging in sincere dialogue. History will judge each actor. We have chosen responsibility, protection and dignity for our people," the group said.
The press conference came as AFC/M23 rebels made a major territorial advance, entering the strategic city of Uvira on Tuesday after days of fighting along the Ruzizi plain.
Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu, had been the main government stronghold on the southern axis since February. Its fall marks the rebels' biggest gain since capturing Bukavu earlier this year and follows the takeover of Goma in January and Bukavu in mid-February.
Government forces, including Burundian units, FDLR remnants, Wazalendo militias and foreign fighters, had struggled to maintain cohesion, with internal conflicts weakening the defensive lines. Recent battles around Kamanyola saw Burundian forces take a leading role, including airstrikes launched from within Burundi.
Thousands of civilians have fled the renewed fighting, with many crossing into Rwanda and reporting abuses by coalition forces.
Meanwhile, Rwanda, which recently signed a peace deal with the DRC dubbed the Washington Accord, has condemned the renewed violence, accusing the DRC and Burundi of violating ceasefire provisions and escalating the conflict.
'Rwanda condemns the Congolese Army [FARDC] and the Burundian Army [FDNB], together with its coalition of the DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militias, Wazalendo and foreign mercenaries, and have been systematically bombing civilian villages close to the Rwandan border,' the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reads.
'These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace, resulting in the continued suffering of the population in Eastern DRC, as well as a security threat to Rwanda's western border."
Wycliffe Nyamasege
