M23-Appointed Chief Faces Pushback From Local Leaders in Walikale

The AFC/M23 has installed Muhindo Mushiwanja as customary chief of Iremya locality in Walikale territory, North Kivu, after more than a year of occupation, according to Actualite.cd. The ceremony reportedly took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Kateku, the main town of the locality.

The move has drawn objections from Mwami Makasi Likanga, the chief of the Ikobo groupment, who said the appointment violated customary procedures for selecting local traditional authorities.

According to the report, Mushiwanja replaces Karinda Theoneste, another AFC/M23-installed chief who was killed by Wazalendo fighters only 48 hours after taking up the role. That earlier killing had already raised concerns about the risks facing rebel-appointed local officials in Walikale, as noted in our previous report.

Makasi Likanga warned that appointing village chiefs outside established customary channels could fuel local power struggles inside Ikobo. He also said the dispute may become a new source of insecurity, even if the rebels later withdraw from the area.

The case comes as AFC/M23 continues to build administrative structures in areas under its control. A recent Critical Threats security review reported that M23 had announced training for hundreds of political and administrative cadres in North Kivu.

For residents of Walikale, the dispute is not only about one appointment. It points to a deeper contest over authority, legitimacy, and control in parts of eastern Congo where armed groups have replaced or challenged state and customary institutions.