# AFC/M23 Rebels Build Parallel Administration in Eastern Congo After Taking Goma and Bukavu

*Friday, September 4, 2026 at 6:13 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-04T06:13:55.498Z (4h ago)
**Category**: conflict | **Region**: Africa
**Importance**: 8/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/16800.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Since capturing Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, the AFC/M23 rebel coalition has moved from front-line fighting to setting up a parallel administration in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to The Africa Report. The group has begun making appointments to run core functions in areas under its control.

The AFC/M23 rebel coalition is entrenching its rule in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by building a governing structure alongside, and in place of, the state’s own institutions.

After seizing the city of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, the group has gone beyond military control and started installing a parallel administration in areas it holds. The Africa Report says this structure includes appointments to key roles responsible for core functions in territory under AFC/M23 control.

For civilians in parts of North and South Kivu, this means that daily life is increasingly shaped by rebel-appointed authorities rather than officials sent by Kinshasa. Basic activities such as moving goods, accessing services, or resolving disputes now depend on decisions made within a rebel chain of command.

The establishment of a parallel administration in major urban centers like Goma and Bukavu is significant because these cities serve as economic and logistical hubs for the region. Rebel control over local governance there strengthens AFC/M23’s grip on trade routes and revenues.

This shift from mobile warfare to structured administration raises the stakes for the Congolese government, which faces a challenge not just to retake territory but to re-establish its authority where an alternative system is being put in place.

Signals to watch include further reporting on the scope of AFC/M23’s appointments, any public statements the group makes about its political aims, and how Kinshasa and regional governments respond—through negotiations, military action, or diplomatic pressure.