The ceremony, held in Tchanzu on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, North Kivu, brought together senior commanders of the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC) under the leadership of Major General Sultani Makenga. <\/p>\n
The new recruits showcased their combat readiness through synchronised parades, tactical manoeuvres, martial arts, and live-fire demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Makenga, who presided over the event, hailed the recruits as \u201crevolutionaries of change,\u201d commending their discipline, endurance, and loyalty to the movement\u2019s mission. He urged them to uphold professionalism and integrity, warning that \u201ccorruption, tribalism, drug abuse and sexual violence will never be tolerated within the ARC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing the recruits in Swahili, Makenga called on them to view their mission as a national duty to restore dignity and unity to a nation he described as \u201cbroken by years of poor governance and discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom today, you have become a true army \u2014 an army of liberation and deliverance, fighting to bring meaningful change to our country,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have risen to provide genuine leadership to our nation, one that values discipline, patriotism, and service to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Makenga emphasised that the new force must distinguish itself from other armed factions by maintaining strong ties with civilians and avoiding abuses against local communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will be respected as guardians of change only through your actions,\u201d he said. \u201cThe people must see you as liberators, not as bandits. If you act otherwise, you will face consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
He further urged the soldiers to remain united and steadfast, pledging continued training and logistical support for those deployed to various battlefronts. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur country must be freed through collective effort,\u201d he added. \u201cLet us rebuild a professional and people-centred army \u2014 one that earns the respect of the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The graduation comes just weeks after a separate batch of over 7,000 fighters completed training under the same command.<\/p>\n
According to AFC\/M23 officials, the expansion signals a new phase in the movement\u2019s reorganisation, positioning it as a structured and disciplined force with ambitions to \u201cdefend the Congolese people and build a new, united, and respected Congo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AFC\/M23 rebel coalition controls large swathes of territory in the eastern DRC, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, which were seized earlier this year after a protracted conflict. The group accuses President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration of marginalising Kinyarwanda-speaking communities and poor governance.<\/p>\n