The Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (french: Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain, known by the acronym APCLS) is an armed militia group which operates in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. APCLS is traditionally active in Masisi Territory, North Kivu and is considered one of the largest '' mai-mai'' (local or ethnic militia) groups operating in the province. Formed in 2006, the APCLS draws most of its support from the Hunde ethnic group. Its ideology is founded on opposition to the Tutsi ethnic groups who are believed to threaten the integrity of the Congolese state and to be supported, in particular, by

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

. The APCLS is a belligerent in the ongoing Kivu conflict and is led by Janvier Buingo Karairi, known as General Janvier.

History

The APCLS was formed as part of the Resisting Congolese Patriots (''Patriotes Résistants Congolais'', or PARECO) group in 2006 and was originally known as PARECO-Hunde. The group split from PARECO in 2008 after the Goma Accords. The militia counts around 1,500 men and is funded by the profits from artisanal mining of gold and

cassiterite Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral, SnO2. It is generally opaque, but it is translucent in thin crystals. Its luster and multiple crystal faces produce a desirable gem. Cassiterite was the chief tin ore throughout ancient history and remains t ...

, as well through the support of wealthy members of the Hunde ethnic group. In the past, the group has co-operated with the

Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (french: Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda, FDLR) is an armed rebel group active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. As an ethnic Hutu group opposed to the ethnic Tuts ...

(''Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda'', FDLR), a Hutu '' Interahamwe'' rebel group from neighbouring

. During the M23 rebellion (2012-13), the APCLS co-operated with Congolese government forces to suppress the largely-Tutsi March 23 Movement. Sporadic fighting between government forces, backed by the United Nations MONUSCO peacekeeping mission, and APCLS continued for several years. In March 2015, government forces launched a major offensive against the APCLS in Masisi Territory. In August 2016, the APCLS, together with another militia, the Mai-Mai Nyatura, a Hutu group active in the same region, announced that they would sign a peace agreement with the central government. By January 2023, the APCLS was fighting alongside the Congolese government forces against the M23 Movement's revived offensive in North Kivu.

Citations

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External links

Local Voices – Between Army and Militias: A Volatile Balance
at Search for Common Ground
Armed Militias in Masisi: A Case Study of the APCLS (The People’s Alliance for Free and Sovereign Congo)
at Search for Common Ground
Mapping of APCLS territory
at Suluhu.org North Kivu Rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006 establishments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Military units and formations established in 2006