Nearly 40 fighters from the M23 rebel group have surrendered to authorities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in what officials describe as a sign of progress toward peace after years of conflict. According to the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), those who laid down their weapons in North and South Kivu provinces, including Kalehe, were largely former civilians, soldiers, and police officers who had been kidnapped and forcibly conscripted when M23 captured parts of Goma and Bukavu earlier this year. Among them were two rebel officers, officials confirmed.
Army spokesperson Col. Guillaume Ndjike urged other M23 fighters to surrender, saying the government was committed to restoring peace in the embattled eastern region. “This is a gesture of courage and a step toward rebuilding our nation,” he said. The surrender comes days after the DRC government and M23 representatives agreed in Doha, Qatar, to establish an oversight mechanism for a permanent ceasefire. The accord, mediated by Qatari officials, aims to implement a July declaration of principles focused on restoring state authority and stability in eastern Congo.
The Rwanda-backed M23 movement, which re-emerged in 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy, remains one of over 100 armed groups operating in the region most vying for control of its rich mineral resources. The ongoing violence has displaced nearly 7 million people, creating what the United Nations describes as “one of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.” UN officials have welcomed the recent ceasefire talks but cautioned that lasting peace will depend on political will, regional cooperation, and accountability for atrocities committed by all sides.
