Over 2,100 DRC police officers, 890 soldiers join M23 in Bukavu

BUKAVU, DR Congo

More than 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers on Saturday, February 22, joined the AFC/M23 rebellion in Bukavu, the capital of DR Congo’s South Kivu Province which the rebels seized last week.

This comes barely five days after the rebel group integrated into its ranks hundreds of government soldiers who surrendered after the capture of Goma, the capital of DR Congo’s North Kivu Province, in late January.

“Currently in the city of Bukavu, more than 2,100 elements of the Congolese National Police and 890 FARDC soldiers are freely expressing their choice to join our organization. We salute the courage and commitment of these compatriots to defend our noble cause of ‘living together’ and the humanization of Congolese life,” Bertrand Bisimwa, a senior leader of the AFC/M23 movement, posted on his X, on Saturday.

The defection ceremony took place in front of the provincial police headquarters, drawing the attention of the local population.

Jackson Nkamba, Senior Commissioner of the Congolese National Police (PNC), justified the move by highlighting the poor working conditions of security forces.

“We were trained with the Congolese government’s money, and I am Congolese. If the government provided the necessary resources, the police would be professional. We are being retrained to become a new kind of police force—one that doesn’t have to intervene on foot or go into the field without even having a meal,” he said.

The defectors will undergo further training in Rumangabo, North Kivu, under the AFC/M23’s supervision. The movement claims it aims to establish a more disciplined and effective police force in the areas under its control.

General Bernard Byamungu, head of operations for the Revolutionary Army of Congo, emphasized the movement’s commitment to restoring security by disarming civilians.

“All these weapons must be taken away from the population so they can live in peace. We will work together to ensure security,” he stated.

Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23’s spokesperson, framed the defections as a step towards a broader political vision.

“The police officers joining us want to work with us to liberate the country and fight against tribalism, exclusion, and poor governance,” he explained.

As the M23 expands its control, the Congolese army (FARDC) is urging deserters to return to their units. Meanwhile, fighting continues on the ground. In Lubero, clashes between the FARDC and M23 have led to widespread looting, further worsening the region’s security crisis.

The mass defection of police and military personnel to the M23 underscores the deep divisions weakening the DRC’s east, where ongoing power struggles between armed groups and the central government continue to fuel instability.