Mouvement du 23 Mars / Armée Révolutionnaire Congolaise. Tutsi-led rebellion revived Nov 2021; took Goma (Jan 2025) and Bukavu (Feb 2025); controls the Rubaya coltan mines and gold sites in South Kivu, with forced labour and illegal ‘taxation’ (US Treasury). Took Uvira in Dec 2025 days after the Washington signing, then withdrew at US request (FARDC back in full control 18 Jan 2026). UN Group of Experts documents direct Rwandan command and RDF troops alongside it. Since Oct 2026 the armed wing of the FRN.
Leader(s): Sultani Makenga (military), Bertrand Bisimwa (political); both FRN vice-presidents
Origin: DR Congo
Area of operation: North Kivu, South Kivu
Relationships
- Backed by: Rwanda (RDF)
- Part of: AFC
- Armed wing of: FRN
- Fights: FARDC
- Fights: Wazalendo
- Fights: FDLR
- Fights: Burundi (FDNB)
- Allied with: Twirwaneho
- Party to: Doha Process (DRC-AFC-M23)
Referenced by
- AFC (Armed wing)
- APCLS (Fights)
- Burundi (FDNB) (Fights)
- CMC-FDP (Fights)
- Doha Process (DRC-AFC-M23) (Party)
- FARDC (Fights)
- FDLR (Fights)
- FPP-AP (Kabido) (Fights)
- FRN (Armed wing)
- Mai-Mai Biloze Bishambuke (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Kabishula (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Kifuafua (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Ngubito (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Yakutumba (CNPSC) (Fights)
- NDC-R (Bwira faction) (Fights)
- NDC-R (Guidon faction) (Fights)
- Nyatura Abazungu (Fights)
- PARECO-FF (Fights)
- Raia Mutomboki (Fights)
- Rwanda (RDF) (Backs / commands (UN GoE))
- SAMIDRC (Fought)
- Twirwaneho (Allied with)
- UPLC (Mai-Mai Kyandenga-Mazembe) (Fights)
- US sanctions on Rwanda’s MoD and Zigama (Oct 2026) (Concerns)
- Uvira offensive and withdrawal (Dec 2025 – Jan 2026) (Attacker)
- Walikale and Rutshuru fighting (Oct 2026) (Defender)
- Wazalendo (Fights)