BWEREMANA, North Kivu — In an atmosphere of popular fervor and customary solemnity, Mwami Kalinda Miteetso II Gauthier was officially enthroned on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, as the head of the Bahunde chieftaincy in Bweremana, North Kivu Province. The ceremony, which brought together thousands of people from across the chieftaincy, was held under the authority of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23), whose presence marked a new milestone in the movement’s efforts to entrench its administration across the territories under its control.
The official delegation was represented by Yannick Tshisola, Chief of Staff to AFC/M23 President Corneille Nangaa, alongside North Kivu’s Deputy Governor Amani Bahati Chadrack, standing in for the provincial governor. This dual representation from both the AFC/M23 leadership and provincial authorities reflects the movement’s determination to anchor its actions within a coherent and structured institutional framework.
Customary dignitaries, community elders, village chiefs, and thousands of civilians from the Bahunde chieftaincy attended the enthronement, lending the event both a popular and deeply symbolic character. The new Mwami is now called upon to embody the aspirations of his people at a time marked by a collective pursuit of order, stability, and development.
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Beyond its military dimension, the AFC/M23 is increasingly positioning itself as a force for governance and administration in the territories it controls. The enthronement of Mwami Kalinda Miteetso II is a concrete illustration of this approach. By officially overseeing this customary ceremony, the movement demonstrates its commitment to respecting and supporting traditional structures of authority, the fundamental pillars of social cohesion in the communities of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
For the AFC/M23, this step is part of a broader vision building a credible alternative for change in the DRC, grounded in the restoration of state authority, community reconciliation, and the revival of local development in liberated zones.
The massive turnout observed during the ceremony speaks volumes about the new Mwami’s deep roots within the social fabric of the Bahunde chieftaincy. Thousands of people, traveling from every corner of the territory, made the journey to show their support and attachment to their newly enthroned customary leader.
This popular endorsement also sends a strong signal regarding the legitimacy that local communities are granting to the administrative framework put in place by the AFC/M23. In a context where expectations around security, justice, and development remain high, the people of Bweremana appear to be placing their hopes in this emerging governance dynamic.
The enthronement of Mwami Kalinda Miteetso II opens a new chapter for the Bahunde chieftaincy. The challenges ahead are significant: rebuilding infrastructure, improving access to basic social services, reviving the local economy, and consolidating inter-community peace. The AFC/M23, which intends to play a central role in supporting customary authorities, has reaffirmed its commitment to these priority endeavors.
Through concrete acts such as this official enthronement, the movement sends a clear message: the liberation of territories is not an end in itself, but rather the starting point of a more ambitious social project, one oriented toward the well-being of the population and the rebuilding of governance across the Democratic Republic of Congo.
