Residents of Goma in North Kivu province woke up on Monday to widespread protests, as large numbers of Congolese citizens took to the streets to denounce the extension of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) and recent statements made by President Félix Tshisekedi regarding the AFC/M23 coalition.
The demonstrations began early in the morning on Monday, December 22, 2025, with protesters occupying major roads across different parts of the city, which has now been under the control of AFC/M23 for nearly a year.
The protests follow the decision to extend MONUSCO’s mandate until December 20, 2026, a move that has sparked frustration among sections of the population.
Tensions were further heightened after President Tshisekedi, speaking over the weekend, reiterated that the AFC/M23 coalition, which he accuses of fighting against his government with the support of Rwanda, must withdraw from all territories it currently controls.
These remarks angered some Congolese citizens living in areas controlled by AFC/M23. Many of them say they have experienced a clear difference between life in zones administered by the coalition and those under government control, claiming they are now enjoying a level of peace and security they had not experienced before. Some residents argue that President Tshisekedi should make such statements only after visiting these areas himself.
In Goma, protesters also expressed concern over the AFC/M23’s withdrawal from the city of Uvira, saying they fear their counterparts there may once again face insecurity after having briefly experienced stability.
When AFC/M23 announced its decision to pull its forces out of Uvira, residents of the city immediately took to the streets to protest the move, arguing that they had only just begun to enjoy the peace and safety brought by the coalition.
However, AFC/M23 has reassured residents that it has not abandoned them, stating that it requested the deployment of neutral security forces to protect the city in order to ensure the continued safety of civilians.
RADIOTV10
