AFC/M23 rebels seen in Goma in February after capturing the city on January 27, 2025. Courtesy
January 27, 2026 marks one year since the AFC/M23 movement captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in eastern DR Congo.
Over the course of 12 months, several events have happened in the conflict that has its roots more than three decades ago.
Following the fall of Goma, the rebels presented hundreds of European mercenaries who had been fighting alongside the Congolese armed forces (FARDC).
The alliance, led by former Congolese election chief Corneille Nanga as political coordinator and Gen Sultani Makenga as its military coordinator, later advanced southwards, capturing Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, on February 16.
AFC/M23 also handed over to Rwanda several members of the FDLR genocidal group who had been captured while fighting alongside the FARDC and its allies, who include the Wazalendo militia and Burundian and SADC troops.
The rebels also facilitated the repatriation of SADC troops, who were stranded in Goma and other areas after suffering defeat. AFC/M23 allowed these forces to withdraw and transit through Rwanda on their return home to South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania.
With Goma and Bukavu under AFC/M23 control, the first direct peace talks between the rebels and the Congolese government were initiated in Doha, Qatar, on April 18. The Qatar-mediated talks have led to a number of agreements, including the July 19 Declaration of Principles.
The year also saw the Rwandan and Congolese governments hold historic negotiations aimed at restoring peace in eastern DR Congo and the region by addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as the existence of the FDLR.
Under mediation by the United States government, Rwanda and DR Congo reached key milestones, including the signing of the Washington Accords by Presidents Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi on December 4.
Despite ceasefire agreements, however, on the ground, hostilities continued, with the rebels accusing Kinshasa of multiple violations. On December 10, the AFC/M23 announced captured the city of Uvira, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
The fall of Uvira followed days of heavy fighting from Kamanyola border town through the small towns of Luvungi, Sange and Kiliba. The rebels announced their withdrawal from Uvira on December 15, and completed it on January 17.
M23 rebels, including a spokesperson Lt. Col Willy Ngoma (center), celebrate after entering Goma City in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, January 28. Courtesy.
Dozens of Congolese soldiers from eastern DR Congo fled to Rwanda on Monday, January 27, 2025, after M23 rebels captured the border city of Goma. Courtesy
Some aircrafts photographed at Goma Airport that was seized by M23 rebels in February 2025. Photo by James Munyaneza
M23 rebels on patrol in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on January 30, 2025.
More than 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers joined the AFCM23 rebellion in Bukavu, the capital of DR Congo’s South Kivu Province on Saturday, February 22,2025. Courtesy
Thousands of Goma citizens during a general meeting with AFC/ M23 rebel leaders in February 2025. Courtesy
Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe and DR Congo’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba, sign the Peace Agreement between Rwanda and the DRC on June 27, 2025, in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Courtesy.
Brig. Gen. Ezechiel Gakwerere of the genocidal militia FDLR and some members captured by M23 at the handover event in Rubavu District on March 1. Photo Germain Nsanzimana
A large crowd gathers for an AFC/M23 meeting in Bukavu on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Courtesy.
A group of soldiers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), were repatriated after they were given passage through Rwanda on Monday, February 24.
A view of Bukavu based square known as Place de l'Independance on February 19, 2025. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza
Bertrand Bisimwa, M23's political leader and Corneille Nangaa, the leader of a political-military coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) during a press conference in Goma on Thursday, January 30, 2025. Emmanuel Dushimimana
Close to 300 European mercenaries surrendered to M23 rebels and were allowed to cross into Rwanda before they were facilitated to take flights to their countries on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Photos by Emmanuel Dushimimana
AFC-M23 rebels arrive at Rusizi border after capturing the city of Bukavu in South Kivu Province on February 18, 2025. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza
Some of the artillery weapons seized by M23 at Goma International Airport, as seen in February 2025. Photo by James Munyaneza
A group of soldiers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), were repatriated after they were given passage through Rwanda on Monday, February 24, 2025.
The State of Qatar on Saturday, July 19, 2025, hosted in Doha the signing ceremony of a Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo River Alliance–March 23 Movement.
M23's Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma and other fighters pose for a photo after capturing the city of Uvira in South Kivu Province in December 2025.
President Trump joins President Kagame of Rwanda and President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they sign the Washington Accords, a major peace deal, at the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C.
Uvira residents during a peaceful march to support AFC/M23 rebels.