AFC/M23 Rebels Build Parallel Administration After Seizing Goma and Bukavu
After capturing Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, the AFC/M23 rebel coalition in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has begun setting up a parallel administration in territory under its control.
Armed rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is shifting into a new phase as the AFC/M23 coalition moves from military advances to building its own governing structures in areas it holds, including two key provincial capitals.
Since taking Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, the coalition has gone beyond simple occupation, according to reporting by The Africa Report. In territory under its control in eastern DRC, it has begun establishing a parallel administration.
This emerging structure includes appointments in areas it controls, indicating that the group aims to entrench its authority rather than act as a purely mobile force. Publicly available details remain partial, but the picture is one of an organized system for running day-to-day affairs.
For civilians in Goma, Bukavu, and surrounding zones, rebel rule means navigating new chains of authority for security, local decisions, and access to basic services. Instead of dealing with representatives of the central government, residents now face officials backed by armed groups.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s central authorities see such arrangements as a direct challenge to national sovereignty. A functioning parallel administration in two major cities complicates any future effort to restore state control or negotiate a settlement.
Goma and Bukavu are important commercial and political centers near the borders with Rwanda and Burundi. Control over them gives AFC/M23 influence over trade, movement, and local economies.
The broader pattern reflects what happens when conflict persists and the state’s presence weakens: armed movements begin to fill the vacuum not only with weapons but with their own rules and officials.
Key developments to watch include how far the rebel administration extends beyond the main cities, how Kinshasa and neighboring countries respond, and whether outside mediators adjust their approach to reflect the reality of entrenched parallel governance.
Sources
- OSINT