AFC/M23 is currently holding thousands of Congolese government troops, most of whom were captured during fighting in late January 2025, when the group seized the city of Goma and surrounding border areas.
On March 8, 2026, AFC/M23 announced plans to hand over 5,000 detainees to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for transfer to the capital, Kinshasa. The group said the soldiers are being held at the Rumangabo military base and that their release is intended to support ongoing peace efforts and facilitate dialogue with the DRC government.
RFI reported on April 8, 2026, that the ICRC is prepared to transport the soldiers to Kinshasa, but that Congolese authorities have not yet authorized their reception. According to the report, the hesitation is linked to concerns that some of the soldiers could have been compromised or may pose a threat, although no official government statement has been issued.
The report also noted that AFC/M23 has been encouraging the DRC government to receive the soldiers, while a source close to President Félix Tshisekedi said the government was taking time to consider the offer.
Earlier, on February 20, 2026, AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo announced the release of 230 soldiers captured in Goma, though it remains unclear whether they were subsequently transferred to Kinshasa by the ICRC.
In a related development, in April 2025, 1,359 Congolese soldiers and police officers who had taken refuge at United Nations peacekeeping bases (MONUSCO) on the outskirts of Goma were repatriated to Kinshasa following negotiations involving the ICRC and AFC/M23.
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