A total of 204 former M23 fighters surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) during April and May 2026, according to military authorities overseeing operations in the country’s conflict-affected eastern provinces.
The announcement was made by the command of the 34th Military Region, which said efforts aimed at encouraging members of armed groups to abandon combat and return to civilian life are continuing across several areas of eastern Congo.
The fighters who surrendered reportedly came from the territories of Lubero, Rutshuru and Masisi in North Kivu Province, as well as Kalehe in South Kivu. These regions have remained at the center of recurring armed conflicts for years, with multiple armed groups operating in the area.
Military officials stated that the former combatants voluntarily presented themselves at government military positions. Some arrived carrying their weapons, while others had already laid down their arms before entering the surrender process.
Witnesses who observed their arrival said many appeared physically exhausted and weakened after spending months under difficult conditions associated with life in armed movements and ongoing military confrontations.
Following their surrender, the former fighters received basic humanitarian assistance and were enrolled in procedures designed to facilitate their transition back into civilian life. Authorities said several of them also provided testimonies describing the hardships they experienced while serving within the armed movement.
The development comes as Congolese authorities continue to promote disarmament initiatives in eastern DRC, where insecurity has displaced millions of people and disrupted economic and social activities across large parts of North and South Kivu.
Major Dieudonné Kasereka, communications officer and spokesperson for the Task Force of the 34th Military Region, used the occasion to encourage other combatants still operating within armed groups to follow the same path.
“Those who are still among the rebels and are afraid to separate from them, we assure them that they will be well received just like all the others who have already surrendered to the FARDC.” he said.
Military authorities maintain that individuals who choose to abandon armed groups will continue to receive support and protection as part of reintegration efforts. The government views such defections as an important element in broader attempts to restore stability in eastern Congo.
Security analysts are closely monitoring the growing number of fighters leaving armed movements, arguing that sustained defections could influence the balance of forces in some conflict zones and potentially contribute to efforts aimed at reducing violence in the region.
While different parties to the conflict continue to present competing narratives regarding developments on the ground, the surrender of more than 200 fighters within a two-month period has drawn attention as a notable security development in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
