AFC/M23 has entered a new phase in its military and administrative development after announcing the introduction of monthly salaries for its fighters, a move that comes as the movement also steps up efforts to push FDLR forces out of areas under its influence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to information released by individuals close to the movement, ordinary AFC/M23 fighters have started receiving at least $100 per month, while officers and personnel with higher responsibilities are paid more depending on their rank and duties.
The development was publicly confirmed by AFC/M23 Permanent Secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa, who described it as an important milestone in improving the welfare of the movement’s soldiers.
In a message posted on X, Mbonimpa stated: “It is an important stage in taking care of our heroic soldiers. Medical care and daily meals are available. Regarding providing them with military equipment and uniforms, our Organization does it well and consistently.”
Images circulating on social media showed AFC/M23 fighters celebrating after receiving their payments, with some posing for photographs while displaying the money they had been given.
Several fighters reportedly described the salaries as recognition of the sacrifices they have made since joining the movement.
One fighter, who said he had lived as a refugee before joining AFC/M23 in 2022, argued that the payments were not the reason members joined the struggle but rather an incentive that encourages continued commitment.
The salary initiative has also attracted attention from analysts studying conflict dynamics in the Great Lakes region. Independent researcher Eliezaire Ushindi argued that the move reflects a broader effort to strengthen the movement’s institutional capacity.
According to Ushindi, armed groups that successfully establish administrative, financial and military structures often become more difficult to defeat through military means alone, reinforcing arguments that political solutions are necessary alongside security measures.
At the same time, AFC/M23 leaders have intensified public messaging against FDLR, a militia that has operated in eastern Congo for decades.
During a meeting with residents in Mpati, Masisi Territory, North Kivu Governor Col Bahati Musanga Erasto, appointed by AFC/M23, urged local communities to encourage young Congolese fighters to leave FDLR.
He argued that many Congolese youths fighting alongside the group should reconsider their future and return to their communities rather than continue serving under an organization whose origins are linked to individuals who fled Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Bahati further declared that AFC/M23 intends to continue military operations against FDLR and push the group beyond Walikale, while calling on Congolese members to abandon the organization before such operations intensify.
He also claimed that many Congolese within FDLR are effectively being held hostage by circumstances and manipulation, urging families to persuade them to leave.
The message was echoed by Col Nzenze Imani, who said AFC/M23 is prepared to receive Congolese fighters currently serving in FDLR or Nyatura and integrate them into programs focused on community protection and civilian security.
He assured residents that AFC/M23 forces would protect civilian property and agricultural activities, while stressing that any soldier involved in looting or abuse would not be tolerated.
The developments come amid continuing debates over the future of security and governance in eastern DR Congo, where numerous armed groups remain active despite years of military campaigns and regional diplomatic efforts.
For AFC/M23, the combination of a formal salary structure and an intensified campaign against FDLR appears designed to strengthen internal cohesion, improve military discipline, and demonstrate growing organizational capacity. For observers of the region, these moves may also signal a new stage in the evolving political and security landscape of eastern Congo.
