The public display took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in what M23 described as a direct response to violations of a recently agreed ceasefire.

In a statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the captured individuals were responsible for recent insecurity in and around Goma and South Kivu.

The group praised the ARC for its “professionalism” and claimed their actions had halted civilian massacres in the region.

AFC/M23, which controls large swathes of eastern Congo, also accused Burundi of playing a destabilising role by deploying troops in support of the Kinshasa regime and by financing and arming Wazalendo militias via the eastern Congolese town of Uvira.

“We commend the professionalism of the ARC, whose actions not only brought an end to the massacres of civilians… but also exposed Burundi’s involvement,” the statement read.

The rebel group further accused the Congolese government, led by President Félix Tshisekedi, of repeatedly violating the April 23 joint declaration and the unilateral ceasefire announced by AFC/M23.

“We alert the national and international community to the repeated violations by the Kinshasa regime,” the group stated, reaffirming its commitment to protecting civilians and “eliminating the threat at its source.”

Ce samedi 10 mai 2025, l'Armée Révolutionnaire Congolaise (ARC) a capturé et présenté aux médias des éléments des forces du régime de Kinshasa, notamment des FARDC, des Wazalendo et des FDLR, responsables de l'insécurité à Goma.

Nous saluons le professionnalisme de l'ARC dont… pic.twitter.com/A7XwSf1mJq

— Lawrence KANYUKA (@LawrenceKanyuka) May 11, 2025

The developments come just weeks after the two parties issued the rare joint statement, signalling a mutual willingness to halt hostilities and work toward a permanent truce.

The Qatar-mediated talks raised cautious optimism after years of failed ceasefires in the volatile eastern region, where more than half a dozen such agreements have collapsed since 2021.

Saturday’s public parading of captured combatants and the subsequent accusations could undermine fragile progress and reignite tensions, casting doubt on the durability of the current peace efforts.

AFC/M23 rebel group controls large swathes of eastern Congo including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.