The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have announced the arrest of several soldiers who recently fled fighting in areas surrounding Minembwe in South Kivu Province and headed toward the city of Kalemie in Tanganyika Province.
The spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in Tanganyika Province, Sgt. Aristote Tshitamba, announced that several soldiers who abandoned the fighting in South Kivu, along with individuals he described as infiltrators, were arrested on the afternoon of July 13, 2026.
“They include infiltrators, soldiers who deserted the battlefield, and members of urban criminal gangs. They have been transferred to Kalemie Central Prison, where they will remain pending legal proceedings,” Tshitamba said.
Some of the arrested soldiers were still wearing FARDC military uniforms, while others were dressed in civilian clothing. Before being taken to prison, they were made to sit on the ground and received instructions from military authorities.
The arrests came after intense fighting in South Kivu over the past two weeks, during which the AFC/M23 coalition and the MRDP-Twirwaneho armed group captured several areas, including Point-Zéro, Mikenke, Gakenke, Kalingi, Baruta, Lubemba, and Rwitsankuku.
FARDC troops and allied armed groups reportedly retreated southward toward areas including the towns of Baraka and Fizi. Some soldiers chose not to return to the front lines and instead continued their journey to Kalemie, far from the conflict zone.
A similar movement toward Kalemie occurred in early December 2025 after AFC/M23 seized large parts of Uvira Territory, including the city of Uvira. Several of those who fled were subsequently arrested and accused of violating military orders.
