Wazalendo

The Wazalendo (Swahili; lit. 'patriots' or 'nationalists') is a Congolese rebel coalition and irregular force based in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[2] It is made up of rebel groups allied with the official Congolese military (FARDC) and opposed to the M23 rebel group.^[3] It consists of the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS), Nduma Defense of Congo-Renovated (NDC-R), the Collective of Movements for Change (CMC), Patriotic Self-Defense Movement (MPA), and different Nyatura groups.^[4][5]

Wazalendo
Zones of control in the M23 campaign as of 3 April 2025. Wazalendo presence is marked by light coffee-coloured hatching.
Dates of operation	May 2023–present
Merger of	Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) Nduma Defense of Congo-Renovated (NDC-R) Collective of Movements for Change (CMC) Patriotic Self-Defense Movement (MPA) Mai-Mai Mazembe[1] Nyatura
Headquarters	Pinga[1]
Active regions	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Opponents	March 23 Movement Rwanda Islamic State Allied Democratic Forces
Battles and wars	Kivu Conflict M23 campaign (2022–present) Second Battle of Kitshanga 2025 Goma offensive 2025 Uvira offensive 2025 Walikale offensive

History

In November 2022, President Félix Tshisekedi called for the formation of "vigilance groups against the expansionist ambitions" of the M23. The response was increased recruitment for the official FARDC military forces, but rebel groups also claimed the mantle of resisting the M23.^[3]

On May 8–9, 2023, several rebel groups and FARDC officers met in the town of Pinga and negotiated a nonaggression pact and the creation of a patriotic coalition to resist the M23. The FARDC officers were led by Col. Salomon Tokolonga, commander of the 3411th regiment.^[6] While the alliance was initially organized in secret, the government officially legalized the use of militias within FARDC on September 3, 2023.^[7]

The Wazalendo fought in the Second Battle of Kitshanga against the M23.