SUMMARY
APCLS (Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain, Alliance of the Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo) was a Mayi Mayi militia active primarily in Masisi territory of Nord Kivu Province in DR Congo (Zaire). The group originated from the PARECO (Coalition des patriotes résistants congolais), an armed alliance that supported the Government of DR Congo in its conflict against CNDP. During the 2008 Goma Peace Process, APCLS split from PARECO after refusing to participate fully in the peace agreement or integrate into FARDC.
APCLS was formed as a local militia resisting refugee returns and as a force in land conflicts with ethnic Hutu and Tutsi communities often referred to locally as “Rwandophones”. APCLS narratives emphasized the defense of “autochthonous” Hunde communities against perceived demographic marginalization and loss of ancestral land in Masisi and Rutshuru territories. The group framed its mobilisation in explicitly autochthonous terms; in a 2010 statement it described itself as defending “indigenous Congolese” populations of Masisi, Rutshuru, and Walikale against what it characterized as attempts to remove them from their ancestral territories. The group was generally well accepted in predominantly Hunde areas and was often perceived locally as an essential self-defense force for the survival of the Hunde community. In later years the group adopted a broader nationalist and anti-Rwandan political discourse. During the 2011 elections, the movement reportedly sought to shape voter registration processes in Masisi and Walikale territories. They established a political branch and reportedly sought political party registration. Although a former ally to the Government of DR Congo in its conflict against M23, they stated their new aim in October 2012 to overthrow the Government of Joseph Kabila.
APCLS was mainly active in Masisi territory, particularly around Lukweti, Kitchanga, Nyabiondo, and neighboring areas of central Nord Kivu Province. The group maintained influence over rural population centers, road networks, and mining areas in parts of Masisi and Walikale territories. Periodically APCLS also operated in coordination with allied armed groups in Rutshuru territory.
APCLS was predominantly composed of ethnic Hunde combatants and maintained strong relations with local Hunde communities in the Lukweti area of Bafuna groupement, Masisi territory. The movement was reportedly supported financially by segments of the Hunde business community in Goma. Membership estimates varied considerably over time. APCLS leader General Janvier Buingo Karairi claimed to command three brigades totaling approximately 4500 combatants, although other estimates placed the group’s strength between 500 and 2500 fighters. UN reporting following internal fragmentation in 2018 estimated Janvier’s faction at approximately 200–250 combatants. Between December 2022 and January 2023, APCLS reportedly recruited around 200 additional combatants as armed groups remobilised in response to the resurgence of M23. The movement operated through decentralized Mayi Mayi-style command structures in which local commanders retained significant autonomy. APCLS fighters were primarily equipped with small arms and light weapons. Unlike several rival armed groups in Masisi territory, APCLS reportedly controlled relatively few major mining sites before 2018. The movement instead relied heavily on local legitimacy, ethnic protection narratives, support networks, and informal taxation systems. APCLS and allied groups imposed taxes on civilian movement, motorcycles, vehicles, timber exploitation, and local trade, particularly around Kitchanga and Mweso.
Initially, APCLS cooperated with the Government of DR Congo against M23. However, in October 2012 the movement broke with the government and declared its intention to oppose the presidency of Joseph Kabila. APCLS subsequently strengthened its anti-Rwandan position and formed alliances with FDLR and Nyatura factions. In 2017, APCLS became an important ally of CMC. From 2020 onwards, APCLS participated in a series of shifting military alliances in Masisi and Rutshuru territories. In early 2021, APCLS joined the “Alpha 60” coalition alongside NDC-R factions and Nyatura groups to resist FARDC operations and rival armed groups. During 2021 and 2022, APCLS also clashed repeatedly with the NDC-R/Bwira faction led by Mapenzi in Masisi territory. APCLS accused Mapenzi and associated commanders of collaborating with M23 and recruiting combatants on behalf of the movement.
In 2018, APCLS fragmented after former deputy commander Mapenzi Bulere Likuwe established APCLS-Rénové following disputes with Janvier Karairi over mining revenues, leadership, and political orientation. The split intensified intra-Hunde tensions in Masisi territory. Mapenzi subsequently allied with NDC-R and reportedly received support or tolerance from elements within FARDC. Reports indicated that combatants from the APCLS Mapenzi–NDC-R coalition committed killings, rape, looting, and attacks against civilians perceived to support Janvier Karairi’s faction. Following military pressure from the APCLS Mapenzi–NDC-R coalition, APCLS Janvier forces retreated northward into predominantly Hutu areas where they strengthened alliances with Nyatura Jean-Marie Nzayi, Nyatura Kavumbi, Nyatura Benjamin, UPDC, and dissident FDC Luanda factions.
APCLS was led by General Janvier Buingo Karairi, a long-standing Mayi Mayi commander involved in multiple conflicts in eastern Congo since the early 1990s. Karairi formed his first militia during the Hunde-Hutu conflict in Kitchanga, Masisi territory, in 1993. He later joined AFDL during the campaign against the Mobutu regime in 1996 and subsequently aligned with Mayi Mayi groups during the Second Congo War beginning in 1998. Following the 2003 peace agreement, Karairi briefly integrated into the national armed forces before deserting, reportedly protesting the influence of RCD and Rwanda within the new Congolese army. According to MONUSCO, the president of the political wing of APCLS was Hangi Augustin.
On 9 May 2022, APCLS effectively ceased to operate as an independent group when it joined the Alliance des résistants de la patrie (ARP), an alliance between armed groups formed in Pinga to fight M23 alongside the Government of DR Congo. Janvier Karairi was the leader of the ARP alliance. Through this integration, APCLS later became part of the VDP alliance established in 2023. Within the VDP structure, Janvier Karairi Boingo reportedly assumed a senior leadership role coordinating intelligence and coalition activities.
CMC (Collectif des mouvements pour le changement, Coalition for movements of change) with its armed wing called FDP (People's Defense Forces) was formed as an umbrella movement of Hutu-Nyatura groups in the Nord Kivu province of DR Congo (Zaire) and some Raia Mutomboki factions in Sud Kivu. Nyatura groups fought to protect the Hutu population in [DR Congo] (/#/country/490) from attacks by other armed groups and the Congolese army but in 2016 many of these groups joined together under CMC to challenge then President Kabila. A manifest stating that ”from December 20, 2016 Kabila is no longer constitutionally recognized President” and a “commitment to fight by all means the dictatorial, undemocratic and unconstitutional military system erected in Kinshasa” was published in February 2017 by the group.
CMC maintained a presence across both Kivu provinces but was strongest in Bukombo groupement, in southern Bwito chiefdom of Rutshuru territory, where the dominant Nyatura Domi faction maintained its headquarters. The coalition united several armed groups, including Nyatura Domi-FPC, APRDC, Nyatura-FDP, Nyatura-Love, Nyatura Jean-Marie, Nyatura Niyonzima, and Nyatura Nzayi.
The president of the CMC was Athanase Murundura, also known as Baobab. The spokesperson of the movement was Jean-Claude Habyarimana Mbitse, also known as Jules Mulumba. The principal military commander within CMC was Dominique Ndaruhutse, also known as Domi, who led the influential Nyatura Domi faction in Rutshuru territory.
CMC fighters were primarily equipped with small arms and light weapons and operated through semi-autonomous Nyatura factions loosely coordinated under a common political and military umbrella. The group cooperated with APCLS, FDLR, Nyatura Kasongo and NDC-R.
On 9 May 2022, CMC effectively ceased to operate as an independent group when it joined the Alliance des résistants de la patrie (ARP), a coalition of armed groups formed in Pinga to fight M23 alongside the Government of DR Congo. Through this integration, CMC later became part of the VDP alliance established in 2023. Former CMC leader Dominique Ndaruhutse subsequently assumed an important role within VDP, where he reportedly coordinated military operations, administration, and logistics.
