Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: August 1, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Read CTP’s latest analysis on the war in the eastern DRC in the weekly Africa File here.

Key Takeaway: The DRC and Rwanda held the first Joint Oversight Committee meeting as part of the US-brokered peace agreement from late June. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in southern Masisi district in North Kivu. The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a joint summit to merge the Nairobi and Luanda peace frameworks.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in several villages in southern Masisi district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo militia groups in several villages in the Ufamandu group in the Bahunde sector, including near Remeka, and and in the Katoyi sector in southern Masisi on July 30 and July 31.[i] Remeka is about 20 miles southwest of Rubaya by local road. Radio Okapi reported that the clashes are part of M23’s operations against suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) fighters and allied Wazalendo fighters.[ii] M23 has clashed regularly with pro-Congolese government fighters in several areas in southern Masisi district since July 21.[iii]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a remote area in Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in two villages in the Banamulema locality in Kisimba group in Walikale on July 31.[iv]  CTP is unable to verify the precise location of Banamulema. Kisimba group is located in a remote area roughly 10 miles northwest of Pinga, a military and logistics hub on the RP1030 in Masisi district. Congolese media reported previously that M23 has been reinforcing its positions in this area and the nearby Ikobo group in Walikale since July 29.[v]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The DRC and Rwanda held the first Joint Oversight Committee meeting as part of the US-brokered peace agreement. Representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, along with the African Union, Qatar, and the United States, participated in the meeting in Washington, DC, on July 31.[vi] The joint statement said that the committee selected their representatives for future meetings, reviewed progress on the peace agreement’s implementation, and set the table for the first meeting of the Joint Security Mechanism.[vii] Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s senior Africa advisor, told Reuters on July 30 that the first meeting for the security mechanism will be announced soon.[viii] French state media reported previously that the first meeting for the security mechanism could take place next week.[ix]

The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a joint summit to merge the Nairobi and Luanda peace frameworks. Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa chaired the meeting in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the security crisis in the eastern DRC on August 1.[x] The joint summit also included the panel of five facilitators that the blocs appointed in March.[xi] The leaders agreed to merge the EAC-backed Nairobi process and the SADC-backed Luanda process with oversight from the EAC-SADC and the African Union.[xii]

Data Cutoff: July 30, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

To receive the Africa File and Congo War Security Review via email, please subscribe here.

Follow CTP on X, LinkedIn, and BlueSky for daily updates.

Read CTP’s latest analysis on the war in the eastern DRC in the weekly Africa File here.

Key Takeaway: The DRC and Rwanda are set to hold the first meetings of a US-backed framework to monitor the bilateral ceasefire and conduct joint military operations. The United States has increased bilateral defense cooperation with the DRC since brokering a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. French state media reported that several disagreements have blocked progress in the peace process between the DRC and M23. M23 continued its advance southwest of the Masisi district capital in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru district. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages in the Bukombo group in southern Bwito on July 28 and July 29.[i] CTP is unable to verify the location of the villages. Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 launched operations against Wazalendos suspected of collaborating with Forces démocratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) militants in the Bukombo group on July 25.[ii]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the Kavumu airport on the RN2 in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in several villages, including in Kamakombe, in Kabare district on July 29 and July 30.[iii] Kamakombe is about one mile from Kavumu airport and 20 miles north of Bukavu on the RN2.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. Radio Okapi reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in Showa, about eight miles west of Masisi town, and occupied the village on July 28.[iv] M23 has clashed with Wazalendo fighters on several occasions in Showa and on the RP529 between Masisi and Nyabiondo since last week.[v]

M23 continued its advance southwest of the Masisi district capital. M23 reportedly captured two villages from Wazalendo fighters in the Nyamaboko group in the Osso Banyugu sector on July 28.[vi] The two villages are roughly 21 miles southwest of Masisi town by local road. M23 has captured several villages in the Osso Banyungu sector since the group launched an offensive against Wazalendo fighters in this area early last week.[vii]

M23 reportedly reinforced its position in a remote part of Walikale district in North Kviu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 has been reinforcing its positions in the Ikobo group in Walikale with additional fighters and military equipment since July 29.[viii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The DRC and Rwanda are set to hold the first meetings of a US-backed framework to monitor the bilateral ceasefire and conduct joint military operations. The French state media outlet Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported on July 29 that representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, along with the United States, Qatar, and the African Union, are scheduled to meet in Washington, DC, for a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee this week.[ix] RFI reported that the first meeting of the Joint Security Mechanism with representatives from the DRC and Rwanda is scheduled for next week.[x] The US-brokered peace agreement from late June originally set a deadline for the first meeting of the Joint Security Mechanism for July 27.[xi]

The United States has increased bilateral defense cooperation with the DRC since brokering a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. RFI reported on July 30 that the United States has held limited “technical exchanges” with the DRC government centered on the “training, coordination, and professionalization” of the Congolese army (FARDC).[xii] RFI reported that the United States has ruled out direct military intervention in the DRC but wants to strengthen the FARDC to protect US investments, particularly critical mineral supply chains around the Lobito Corridor that run through the southern DRC.[xiii]

RFI reported that several disagreements have blocked progress in the peace process between the DRC and M23. The outlet reported that the two sides have disagreed on small details of the Qatari-brokered ceasefire agreement from July 19. RFI reported that the DRC government rejected M23 proposals to withdraw at least three miles from the frontlines and establish a “buffer zone” between the two forces.[xiv] RFI reported that there has been “no concrete progress” in establishing a joint monitoring and verification mechanism for the ceasefire.[xv]

The DRC and M23 have made slow progress also on implementing confidence-building measures as part of the declaration agreement. RFI reported that the two sides have made minimal progress on the prisoner release issue. The outlet reported that the DRC has reiterated its position that the amnesty of the more than 780 prisoners that M23 has demanded for release will be treated on a “case-by-case basis” as part of any final peace deal.[xvi] CTP previously reported that M23 conditioned its participation in future talks with the DRC government on the release and transfer of all M23 prisoners held by the DRC government to Goma.[xvii]

Data Cutoff: July 28, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

To receive the Africa File and Congo War Security Review via email, please subscribe here.

Follow CTP on X, LinkedIn, and BlueSky for daily updates.

Read CTP’s latest analysis on the war in the eastern DRC in the weekly Africa File here.

Key Takeaway: M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in several villages near the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a remote area in Walikale district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in several villages near the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Showa village—eight miles west of Masisi town—on July 25.[i] Congolese media reported that M23 repelled Wazalendo attacks on its positions in Luke and Katoboto villages on July 26.[ii] Luke is about 13 miles south of Masisi town and 14 miles west of Rubaya on local roads. M23 has repelled Wazalendo attacks near Luke since M23 captured the area on July 23 and deployed additional fighters in recent days.[iii] The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 also clashed with Wazalendos in Kazinga village, which is roughly 17 miles southwest of Masisi town, on July 26.[iv]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a remote area in Walikale district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo positions in village north of the RP1030 in the Kisimba group in Walikale on July 26.[v]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Nothing significant to report.