Congolese authorities hand over 15 prisoners to M23 rebels
The ICRC said the transfer was one of the first concrete steps under the Qatar-mediated peace deal, after months of talks over detainees.
- On Friday, Democratic Republic of Congo authorities released 15 detainees to AFC/M23, marking the first known prisoner transfer under the 2025 Doha peace agreement facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
- This transfer stems from the US-brokered peace agreement signed in December 2025; a previous attempt in April 2026 to exchange nearly 500 prisoners collapsed due to disputes over legal procedures and identity verification.
- Detainees travelled from Beni through Uganda overnight to Rutshuru Territory, where the ICRC ensured compliance with Ebola prevention measures amid a growing outbreak in eastern DRC.
- Stephanie Eller, head of ICRC operations in Kinshasa, stated, "We hope this operation will help bring relief to families separated from loved ones for a long time."
- Uncertainty persists whether these 15 detainees were part of the April list; Congo and the United Nations have repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the insurgency, a claim Kigali denies.
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this is a long-awaited first step towards trust in the peace process. Congolese authorities have handed over 15 prisoners to the AFC/M23 rebels. This operation, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, constitutes the first concrete transfer of detainees since the signing of the Doha Mechanism nearly a year ago.
DR Congo hands first prisoners back to M23 rebels under peace deal
In a long-awaited operation, Democratic Republic of Congo authorities released 15 prisoners and handed them over to rebels from the AFC/M23 movement on Friday. It marks the first known prisoner transfer under a peace deal signed last year to end fighting in the eastern DRC.
Congolese authorities hand over 15 prisoners to M23 rebels
Democratic Republic of Congo authorities released 15 prisoners and handed them over to rebels from the AFC/M23 movement on Friday, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the first known transfer of prisoners under last year's deal to end fighting in the east.
In Congo, AFC-M23 Questions Release of 15 Prisoners Under Doha Peace Process
GOMA — The AFC-M23 has questioned the release of 15 prisoners by the Kinshasa government under the Doha peace process, saying only nine of those released were on its list… The post In Congo, AFC-M23 Questions Release of 15 Prisoners Under Doha Peace Process appeared first on KT PRESS.
DRC: 15 detainees handed over by Kinshasa to AFC/M23, a first since the Doha Framework Agreement Image media Patient Fri 07/08/2026 - 07:29 Corps Fifteen people released by the Congolese authorities were handed over Friday to AFC/M23.
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