TCHANZU, North Kivu | Sunday, October 5, 2025 — The leader of the M23/Armed Revolutionary Council (ARC) rebel movement, General Sultani Makenga, has vowed to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, accusing it of corruption and poor governance.
Makenga made the remarks on Wednesday, October 1, during the graduation of more than 9,000 new rebel recruits in Tchanzu, a mountainous stronghold under M23 control in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The ceremony, which went unnoticed for days, drew attention on Saturday night after M23 released a 13-minute video showing thousands of armed fighters performing parade drills, chanting slogans, and listening to Makenga’s speech.
The footage quickly spread on social media, alarming regional observers and raising fears about the rebel group’s growing military strength — despite ongoing international mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
In his address, Gen Makenga said the M23’s new force was part of a wider plan to “end bad leadership” and bring what he called “true dignity and security” to the Congolese people.
“We have trained these young men and women to build a disciplined and professional army that will protect civilians and restore justice,” Makenga declared.
“Our ultimate goal is to remove the corrupt regime of President Tshisekedi and establish a government that serves its people.”
The graduation, attended by senior M23 commanders and local administrators loyal to the movement, showcased the group’s capacity to organize and mobilize at a large scale.
Makenga’s remarks come at a time when the United Nations, African Union, and several countries — including the United States, Qatar, and Togo — are pressing for peace in the Great Lakes region.
Just days earlier, the Joint Oversight Committee of the DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement met in Washington, D.C., reaffirming plans to neutralize armed groups such as M23 and the FDLR (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda).
The committee approved a new Joint Security Coordination Mechanism aimed at disengaging combatants and restoring stability.
Kinshasa continues to accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 — a claim Kigali denies — saying its interventions are only to protect its borders against the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The M23, which re-emerged in late 2021 and seized parts of North Kivu between 2022 and 2023, says it is fighting for the rights of Congolese Tutsis and demanding reforms in governance and security.
Analysts warn that Makenga’s open call to overthrow the government could derail fragile diplomatic progress and fuel new violence in eastern DRC, where more than 7 million people remain displaced due to ongoing conflict.
Regional leaders have urged restraint, calling on all armed groups to cease hostilities and give peace talks a chance.
