SUMMARY
AFC (Congo River Alliance, Alliance Fleuve Congo) was a political-military coalition formed on 15 December 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. AFC was led by Corneille Nangaa, former head of the DR Congo's Independent National Electoral Commission. The alliance united political parties, civil society groups, and several armed factions. Chief among these was the M23 which served as AFC's primary armed wing. The alliance rapidly expanded its influence in eastern DR Congo, controlling large parts of Nord Kivu in 2024, capturing key cities such as Goma and Bukavu in early 2025.
AFC aimed to overthrow the Congolese government, citing failures in governance and security. The group has accused President Félix Tshisekedi's administration, of corruption and mismanagement. During a press conference after the fall of Goma in January 2025, Corneille Nangaa stated that federalism would allow for more decentralized and inclusive governance, fostering better representation of the country's diverse regions and ethnic groups, and helping to reduce persistent tensions in the country.
From its inception, the AFC made rapid territorial gains across eastern Congo. By 2024, the alliance had expanded its control across major swaths of Nord Kivu province. In early 2025, it seized key urban centers including Goma and Bukavu, consolidating its power base in both Nord and Sud Kivu. In areas under its control, the AFC established parallel administrations, appointing local governors—Joseph Bahati Musanga in Nord Kivu and Emmanuel Birato in Sud Kivu—to replace the official state structures.
AFC began as a coalition centered around M23, a predominantly Tutsi armed group, but rapidly expanded to incorporate other armed factions and political actors. Initial members included AFP-Gutabara and Article 64 Alliance, both of which had prior operational links with M23. The alliance later attracted additional militias and local defense groups, including elements from the NDC-R-Mapenzi and FPP-AP, two groups that had supported the Kinshasa government in the past. Although dominated by Tutsi commanders, the AFC's political leadership sought to broaden its ethnic base, engaging with Hutu, Nande, and Shi communities in eastern DR Congo. The group also recruited civilians, including minors, from refugee and internally displaced populations in Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
AFC was structured as a hierarchical movement. The political wing was headed by national coordinator Corneille Nangaa, with Bertrand Bisimwa serving as deputy political coordinator. M23 leaders occupied most of the strategic posts. Lawrence Kanyuka was in charge of communication, while others like Willy Ngoma was responsible for military logistics and propaganda. On the ground, the coalition implemented a parallel administrative framework, installing governors and creating decentralized command cells with embedded political commissars responsible for civil affairs, taxation, and justice, effectively implementing governance in rebel-held territories.
The AFC’s military operations were led by M23 under the command of Sultani Makenga. Its combat capabilities were significantly enhanced through logistical and operational support from the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF). RDF units participated directly in several offensives, operating drones, anti-aircraft systems, and heavy artillery in coordination with M23 forces. AFC maintained a flexible, mobile force structure, capable of launching coordinated attacks across multiple fronts. With access to advanced weaponry and a well-disciplined rank-and-file, AFC conducted conventional-style assaults.
Corneille Nangaa served as the political face of the movement. Born in Haut-Uélé province, he had previously worked within CENI and served as President of CENI, during the controversial 2018 elections, which declared Félix Tshisekedi as the winner, amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Nangaa had no known involvement in previous armed movements until launching the AFC in late 2023. In contrast the military commander Sultani Makenga had deep roots in the region’s armed conflicts. He fought for the FPR during the Rwandan civil war and later joined all major Rwanda-backed rebellions in DR Congo (Zaire), beginning with AFDL in the conflict against Mobotu's regime, then RCD in the conflict against the first Kabila regime, and finally M23 in their conflict against the second Kabila regime and the Tshisikedi government.
AFC formed tactical alliances with other armed groups. It developed ties with the Zaire self-defense group, active in Ituri and maintained contacts with some commanders within ISCAP. AFC also established non-aggression pacts with some Mayi Mayi elements in northern South Kivu.
Rwanda provided the most direct and significant external support to the AFC, supplying arms, training, intelligence, and personnel. Beyond Rwanda, the UN Group of Experts found indicators of logistical facilitation from networks in Uganda, particularly in recruitment and cross-border trade routes.
