DRC East Violence Escalates with Prisoner Transfer to M23 Rebels
Authorities in Kinshasa have transferred 15 detainees to the M23 rebel group, marking a long-awaited step in peace negotiations for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern regions.
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the transfer of 15 detainees to the M23, without disclosing their identities or roles. The handover follows decades of unrest in eastern DRC, where the M23 has seized control of vast territories in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Since 2021, the rebel group’s activities have been widely reported to receive backing from neighboring Rwanda, intensifying the conflict. In August 2024, Kinshasa imposed death sentences on several individuals accused of supporting the M23, some in absentia.
A prisoner exchange agreement was signed in Doha in September 2025 between Congolese authorities and the M23, but implementation stalled due to ongoing disputes. In April, negotiators in Switzerland renewed commitments to release detainees as part of fresh talks.
Between Thursday and Friday, the ICRC facilitated the transfer of 15 individuals released by Congolese authorities to the M23. The operation, conducted under strict Ebola prevention protocols, aligns with the Doha agreement signed last year.
Eastern DRC is currently battling an Ebola outbreak, and the ICRC ensured all measures were taken to prevent further spread during the transfer.
