AFC/M23: Kinshasa Prisoner Release Disputed Over Detainee Identities

• The AFC/M23 disputes the identities of six out of 15 detainees recently released by the Congolese government.
• Only nine of the released individuals were on the AFC/M23's submitted list of 768 names for a prisoner exchange.
• This release, facilitated by the ICRC, is part of a September 2025 prisoner-exchange agreement under the Qatar-mediated peace process.
• A previous, larger prisoner exchange agreed for April 26, 2025, failed to materialize.
• The AFC/M23 views the current release as "insignificant" compared to Kinshasa's commitments, citing ongoing arrests of its alleged affiliates.

The dispute over the identities of the released detainees introduces a significant challenge to the ongoing peace efforts.

The AFC/M23 has challenged the identities of a significant portion of detainees recently released by the Congolese government, claiming that six out of 15 individuals transferred are not among its members. This dispute centers on a list of 768 names the movement had previously submitted for a prisoner exchange arrangement agreed upon during peace talks in Doha. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release and handover of these detainees, which took place between August 6 and 7. The individuals were granted safe passage from Beni, traversing through Uganda, before arriving in Bunagana, located in North Kivu province.

AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka issued a statement on Saturday, August 8, confirming that only nine of the 15 released individuals appeared on the 768-name roster provided to the mediation. Kanyuka further specified that among the six disputed detainees, one is a Ugandan national with no direct or indirect connection to the AFC/M23. The remaining five, according to Kanyuka, were arrested in various regions including Katanga, Ituri, and Kinshasa, and were also not present on the movement's official list, highlighting a critical discrepancy in the AFC/M23 Kinshasa prisoner release dispute.

This recent transfer is part of a broader DRC prisoner exchange agreement established between the AFC/M23 and the Congolese government in September 2025. The agreement was conceived as a key confidence-building measure within the Qatar-mediated peace process, with the ultimate aim of paving the way for a comprehensive and final peace agreement between the two sides. The ICRC was specifically entrusted with the facilitation of this sensitive process, underscoring its role in humanitarian efforts during the DR Congo conflict prisoner exchange.

While the AFC/M23 had previously released thousands of government soldiers and other prisoners, this marks the first confirmed transfer of detainees *to* the rebel movement since it took control of Goma in early 2025. In July 2025, the movement had submitted a list of 768 detainees held in Kinshasa prisons, including Makala and Ndolo, from which the ICRC subsequently identified and confirmed 311 individuals. The prisoner exchange was a central topic during the last round of talks held in Montreux, Switzerland, from April 13 to 17. During these discussions, a deadline of April 26 was set for the release of 311 AFC/M23 detainees by the Congolese government and 166 prisoners held by the movement. However, that deadline passed without the agreed exchange taking place, with the AFC/M23 stating its readiness to release its 166 prisoners, but the process stalled without explanation from the mediator or other involved parties.

The dispute over the identities of the released detainees introduces a significant challenge to the ongoing peace efforts. Despite the controversy surrounding the AFC/M23 detainee identity, the release was met with some international optimism. Qatar described the action as "an important step towards strengthening confidence among the parties," while US Senior Advisor for African Affairs Massad Boulos characterized it as "growing momentum toward lasting peace and renewed trust among communities affected by the conflict." However, the AFC/M23's reaction was more measured, welcoming the development but emphasizing that the numbers did not align with the commitments made under the prisoner-release protocol.

Kanyuka further elaborated that these releases suggest the initial list of 768 individuals provided by the movement might not be exhaustive, particularly given what he described as "ongoing arrests of Congolese citizens unjustly and deliberately accused of maintaining ties with our Organization." He concluded that while the Kinshasa regime's action was "encouraging," it "remains insignificant compared to its commitments" and reiterated the movement's call for the release of all Congolese citizens. This incident, despite ICRC DRC prisoner release facilitation, underscores the complexities of implementing confidence-building measures in conflict zones, particularly when verification of detainee identities becomes a point of contention and could hinder the broader Kinshasa AFC/M23 peace process.

Lawyers advising on international humanitarian law or peace negotiations in conflict zones should note the practical challenges in verifying compliance with prisoner exchange protocols, particularly regarding the accurate identification of detainees. This incident highlights potential pitfalls in confidence-building measures and the need for robust verification mechanisms to prevent disputes over adherence to agreed terms.

Source: Original reporting via local sources