Rebels in the DR Congo recruit traditional chiefs and officials in occupied areas

The AFC/M23 coalition has appointed 18 officials in South Kivu province, including territorial administrators, mayors, and city chiefs, signaling a strategy to build a parallel civilian administration. In North Kivu, the rebels installed Muhindo Mushiwanja as the new customary chief of the Iremya region despite local protests. These appointments mark a shift toward structured governance in captured territories.