Over 320 M23-RDF Fighters Surrender to FARDC in Eastern DRC
At least 323 M23-RDF fighters surrendered to the FARDC in North and South Kivu, citing abuse by rebel commanders.
Published:
January 4, 2026 at 6:08:28 PM
Modified:
January 4, 2026 at 7:03:16 PM
More than 320 fighters from the M23 armed group and the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) coalition have surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in North and South Kivu, according to military officials.
In total, 323 M23-RDF elements laid down their arms over the final two weeks of December 2025 at several FARDC positions across eastern Congo, according to Major Dieudonné Kasereka, communications officer for the FARDC’s 34th military region, as reported by 7sur7.cd.
The surrenders occurred in multiple strategic areas, including the territories of Lubero, Rutshuru, and Masisi in North Kivu, as well as Kalehe territory in South Kivu, regions that have seen sustained fighting between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed armed group.
According to Major Kasereka, the fighters who surrendered cited mistreatment, degrading conditions, and acts of torture inflicted by M23 commanders as the primary reasons for abandoning the rebellion.
Speaking on behalf of the 34th military region command, the FARDC officer called on remaining M23 combatants to surrender, stressing that those who lay down their weapons will be treated in accordance with national and international standards.
The Congolese army confirmed that all surrendered fighters have been transferred to secure locations, where they are being processed under military supervision.
Despite the mass surrender, clashes continue in parts of North and South Kivu, where FARDC units remain engaged against remaining M23-RDF elements, particularly in contested rural zones.
The development comes amid mounting international pressure on Rwanda following United Nations expert reports and UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which confirmed Rwanda’s military support for the M23 armed group operating on Congolese territory.
For Kinshasa, the wave of surrenders is seen as further evidence of the internal collapse of the M23-RDF coalition and part of broader military efforts to restore state authority, protect civilians, and dismantle foreign-backed armed networks destabilizing eastern Congo.
Source: 7sur7.cd
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