Cut off from Kinshasa, Congo's AFC/M23 rebels built their own Ebola response

The AFC/M23 rebel group has established a parallel healthcare administration in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to manage an Ebola outbreak, using the crisis to demonstrate its capacity to govern independently of the central government in Kinshasa. While the rebels claim a successful containment in their territories, analysts and humanitarian workers warn that this fragmented response creates dangerous gaps in a region already devastated by war and economic collapse.

According to reporting by Aol and Yahoo News, the AFC/M23 has extended administrative structures into North and South Kivu provinces following an advance in early 2025 that saw the capture of the major cities Goma and Bukavu. Following an outbreak declaration on May 15, the rebels recorded four cases—one in Goma and three near Bukavu. By late June, the group declared the outbreak over in its territory after a 21-day monitoring period with no new cases.

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Government data released on Saturday indicates that transmission has continued elsewhere in Congo, where the outbreak has infected 1,873 people and killed 672.

A Parallel Health State

The rebel response has been coordinated through health administrations operating separately from Kinshasa, with cooperation limited primarily to laboratory testing and data sharing. Freddy Kaniki, the AFC/M23's deputy coordinator for the response, stated that 400 contacts were monitored and 98% received daily follow-ups. He attributed the group's success to greater discipline and anticipation regarding the isolation of cases.

To maintain this control, the rebels imposed strict measures, including the suspension of bus routes to government-held areas. One journalist reported to Reuters that he and his colleagues were forced into mandatory 15-day isolation in a town bordering Uganda after returning to rebel-controlled territory. The group has further promoted its image as a functioning state via social media videos showing officials inspecting laboratories and meeting health workers.

However, the response has been severely under-resourced. Internal documents reviewed by Reuters revealed shortages of fuel, vehicles, and infection-control kits. As of mid-June, the laboratory in Goma possessed only two extraction kits, which limited its testing capacity. Logistics were further hampered by the continued closure of Goma's airport and the shutdown of the banking system in rebel-held areas.

External Support and Regional Tensions

Cut off from the central government, the AFC/M23 turned to Rwanda for medical supplies and expertise. According to response documents, the Rwanda Biomedical Center provided $6,891 in medicines and materials, while Gisenyi Hospital provided $85,467 in supplies, mostly protective equipment. Rwanda also deployed six specialists to Goma, focusing on safe burials, logistics, laboratories, and surveillance.

Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, stated that Kigali's focus was on supporting regional preparedness and surveillance, noting that infectious diseases do not respect borders. This support comes amid ongoing allegations from the United Nations and Western governments that Rwanda backs the M23, a claim Kigali denies.

Humanitarian and Human Rights Context

While the group now portrays its governance as a liberation, The New Humanitarian has documented a grim picture of repression under the rebel administration, including forced conscription, summary executions, and mass arrests of suspected government allies. Residents in Goma describe a deep economic crisis where the banking sector is shut down and unemployment has soared.

The rebel administration, overseen by Corneille Nangaa of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), has touted improved security and road construction. However, investigations report mass round-ups of young men suspected of being members of pro-government Wazalendo militias. Some detainees allege they were taken to a camp in Chanzu where they received ideological training from Rwandan instructors and were subjected to beatings.

Comparing the Outbreak Responses

Metric/Feature	AFC/M23 Controlled Areas	Government-Held Areas
Recorded Cases	4 cases	1,873 infections
Death Toll	Not specified (outbreak declared over)	672 deaths (per gov data)
Primary Supply Source	Rwanda (Biomedical Center/Gisenyi Hospital)
Community Reaction	Mandatory isolation enforced

Reagan Miviri of the Ebuteli research institute cautioned that the rebels' success is a limited test due to the low number of cases. He warned that if the disease spreads into frontline areas where case numbers rise significantly, the fragmented, parallel response systems could make containment much more complicated.

The situation remains precarious as the M23 continues to fight the national army despite a recent ceasefire deal.