The political group Réveil Populaire (REPOP), translated into English as Popular Awakening, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced the expulsion of one of its members, Claude Ibalanky Ekolomba, over his association with the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels.
Ibalanky, who also serves as a Special Envoy of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, is among the founding members of REPOP, which was established in June 2023 to mobilize political support for President Tshisekedi’s second-term bid. Since its creation, Ibalanky had remained close to the President and was entrusted with several presidential assignments.
However, on Saturday afternoon, January 31, 2026, Ibalanky caused national shock after appearing in Goma City, North Kivu Province, eastern DRC—an area currently under the control of M23/AFC rebels. He was seen in the company of senior rebel leaders, including Bertrand Bisimwa, Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, and Lawrence Kanyuka, among others.
While in Goma, Ibalanky held a press conference during which he stated that he had not officially joined the rebel group. He explained that his visit was intended to initiate contact and contribute to peace efforts, arguing that dialogue is necessary to end the ongoing bloodshed. Presenting himself as a man of peace, Ibalanky acknowledged that he had developed differences with President Tshisekedi. He further revealed that he might intervene as an external consultant to the AFC/M23, pending a response from Corneille Nangaa.
On Sunday, REPOP leadership released a statement confirming Ibalanky’s expulsion from the group. According to the statement, the decision is firm and irrevocable, citing that any association with the M23/AFC rebels amounts to involvement in insecurity and instability in eastern DRC. The group stated that Ibalanky’s actions and positions, which contradict the higher interests of the nation—particularly his association with the M23/AFC—qualify him as an enemy of the Republic.
REPOP said the decision was taken to preserve the group’s internal cohesion, political credibility, and institutional image. The statement further reaffirmed REPOP’s unwavering support for the President of the Republic and its commitment to the Sacred Union of the Nation. It emphasized that Ibalanky’s alignment with the M23/AFC is a personal decision amounting to self-exclusion and does not affect the group’s structure, political direction, or core values. The Congolese government has not yet officially reacted to Ibalanky’s association with the M23/AFC rebels.
Ibalanky previously served as Coordinator of the National Monitoring Mechanism of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement (MNS), a body mandated to oversee regional commitments to peace and security in eastern DRC. On May 23, 2023, he was appointed Ambassador-at-Large of the President by presidential decree. Later, on June 12, 2023, he officially launched the REPOP political coalition in support of President Tshisekedi’s second term during the December 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues in South Kivu Province, where M23/AFC fighters, alongside the Twirwaneho coalition, have clashed with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). According to residents, battles have been reported in villages including Kamombo, Vijombo, and Mikenge in Mwenga Territory, as well as along the Tuwetuwe–Mikenge Centre, Kalingi–Minembwe, and Kakenge–Minembwe roads.
Since its resurgence in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels—allegations denied by both Kigali and the rebel group. M23 says its objective is to combat corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Congolese political leadership. Earlier this year, the group launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing major towns and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
***URN***