AFC/M23 Rebels Launch Water Projects in Occupied North Kivu to Bolster Governance Claims

RUTSHURU, North Kivu – In a move to consolidate its administrative grip on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23/AFC rebel coalition has ramped up the distribution of clean drinking water and the inauguration of new supply systems across territories under its control this April 2026. From the volcanic foothills of Nyiragongo to the strategic hubs of Rutshuru, the group is increasingly using the provision of basic utilities as a primary tool to assert its legitimacy against the central government in Kinshasa.

Earlier this week, rebel officials gathered in Kibumba to unveil a refurbished water pumping station, claiming the project would serve thousands of residents who have faced chronic shortages for years. The M23 leadership has framed these infrastructure efforts as a direct response to what they describe as “decades of state neglect,” arguing that their de facto administration is more capable of providing essential services than the national authorities. In areas surrounding Goma, where the group maintains a heavy presence, they have reportedly seized control of local water boards, promising to eliminate the “water mafia” of private tankers that previously profited from scarcity.

However, the humanitarian reality on the ground remains starkly at odds with the rebels’ polished narrative. International aid agencies, including UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières, warn that these localized projects are a drop in the bucket compared to the massive needs of the millions of displaced persons living in squalid conditions nearby.

While M23 celebrates new taps in controlled villages, the broader conflict has crippled the region’s main power grids, frequently cutting off the heavy-duty pumps required to supply Goma’s millions.

Furthermore, as the group begins reported tactical withdrawals from certain frontlines this month under international pressure, the sustainability of these fledgling water systems remains in doubt, leaving local populations caught between a fragile rebel-led utility and the total absence of state support.