In a statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the alliance had declared the ceasefire 'in a spirit of responsibility and in order to offer a real chance for the return of peace.' However, he accused the Kinshasa government of persisting with 'a plan for the systematic extermination of our compatriots, in flagrant violation of all its commitments.'
Kanyuka detailed that early Friday morning, Congolese government forces launched coordinated attacks on Makobola and Minembwe in South Kivu.
He said the assault began at around 5:00 a.m., when coalition forces targeted Makobola using kamikaze drones and naval troops deployed from Baraka. Shortly after, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Minembwe came under attack with drones and heavy artillery, spreading terror among the civilian population.
'These repeated and deliberate violations of the ceasefire, along with the continuation of massacres against our compatriots, demonstrate unequivocally that the Kinshasa regime seeks neither peace nor the protection of civilians,' Kanyuka said.
The announcement follows AFC/M23's recent withdrawal from the strategic city of Uvira, which the alliance had captured earlier in December. The group described the move as a confidence-building measure intended to support ongoing peace talks under the Doha Peace Process.
The withdrawal, which was announced on Monday, December 15, 2025, was carried out at the request of the United States.
Despite this gesture, AFC/M23 maintained that government forces and allied militias, including Wazalendo and Burundian troops, have previously exploited trust-building measures to retake territory and target civilians sympathetic to the alliance.
Kanyuka called on the guarantors of the peace process to implement measures ensuring civilian protection, demilitarisation, and neutral monitoring of the ceasefire in Uvira and surrounding areas.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
