Goma, DR Congo: The rebel group Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) has confirmed the death of its military commander, Sultani Makenga, whom they say succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Kampala on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
In a statement issued from Goma, the group said Makenga sustained injuries on February 24 under circumstances it did not elaborate on, before being transferred to Kampala for medical treatment, where he later died.
“It is with pain and dismay that the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) announces the death of Comrade SULTANI MAKENGA, military commander of AFC/M23 within the structure of military operations, whose life was taken in circumstances of February 24, 2026, and who succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Kampala, Uganda, this Wednesday, February 25, 2026,” reads in part the statement, signed by Alumba Lukamba Omokoko, Chief of Staff to the AFC Office.
Lukamba described Makenga as a committed figure in the group’s armed struggle and extended condolences to his family and what it termed the “revolutionary community” of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Makenga has been a central figure in the March 23 Movement (M23), an armed group operating in eastern DR Congo, particularly in North Kivu Province. The group has been involved in intermittent clashes with Congolese government forces, contributing to prolonged insecurity in the region.
The AFC/M23 statement also referenced alleged violations of prior peace commitments by the Kinshasa government, including the Doha Framework Agreement, though it did not provide specific details related to Makenga’s death.
“In light of these grave acts, the AFC/M23 calls upon the national and international community to bear witness to the blatant disregard of the Kinshasa regime for its commitments, notably the Doha Framework Agreement,” Lukamba noted.
By press time, there was no immediate official confirmation from Ugandan authorities regarding the circumstances of Makenga’s hospitalisation or death in Kampala. Likewise, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo had not issued a public statement.
Makenga has previously faced international scrutiny and sanctions linked to armed conflict in eastern Congo. His reported death is likely to have implications for the command structure and future direction of M23 operations in the region.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
