SUMMARY
APCLS-R (Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain-Rénové, Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain-Rénové) was a Hunde dominated militia formed in December 2017 when APCLS splintered between a faction led by “General” Mapenzi Bulere Likuwe and the main APCLS led by Janvier Karairi. ¨
APCLS-R was mainly active in the Masisi territory, Nord Kivu province of DR Congo (Zaire).
APCLS-R and NDC-R were close allies and the alliance developed into the full integration of APCLS-R into NDC-R in January 2019. In 2023 NDC-R including APCLS-R joined the pro-government VDP alliance before APCLS-R defected in March 2025 to join the AFC fight against the government of DR Congo.
NDC-R (Nduma Défense du Congo - Rénové, Reformed Nduma Defence of Congo) was formed as a splinter faction from NDC in July 2014 after NDC deputy commander Guidon Shimiray Mwissa had accused Sheka Ntabo Ntaberi of embezzlement. NDC-R members were mainly ethnic Nyanga. NDC-R was headquartered in Irameso in Walikale territory. The main objective of NDC-R was to fight against FDLR and then integrate into the national army of DR Congo (FARDC) but they were also involved in the mining business.
NDC-R grew from an estimated strength at between 300 and 600 elements in 2016 to a force of 1000 to 1250 men in 2018. NDC-R closely cooperated with UPDI/Mayi Mayi Mazembe in its fight against FDLR. Some parts of UPDI joined NDC-R in 2016. NDC-R has also been supported by parts of the Congolese army in its military campaigns. After the split of APCLS in 2018 NDC-R allied themselves with the splinter faction APCLS-R.
NDC-R was led by Guidon Shimiray Mwissa and Colonel Jean Claude Kamutoto. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa was part of Mayi Mayi in the 1998-2003 war and was part of the integration into the national army that followed upon the Final Peace Agreement. Mwissa defected from the army in 2007 and joined a small Mayi Mayi called Forces Divines Simba for a year before becoming part of NDC. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa surrendered to the government in August 2021.
