Congo War Security Review
An in-depth review of activity related to the war in the eastern DRC between M23 and its Rwandan backers and pro-Congolese government forces every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Map shapefiles are available by request via email at [email protected].
Data Cutoff: August 25, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST
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Key Takeaway: M23 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 on the RP1030 in Masisi district. Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near Nyabiondo in Masisi on the RP529.
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 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 attacked Wazalendos in five separate villages in the Buabo group, including Kihuma, on August 25.[i] Kihuma village is about five miles southwest of Masisi town on a local road. M23 last clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Buabo in early August.[ii]
Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 on the RP1030 in Masisi district. Congolese media reported that Wazalendos attacked M23 positions in Kalembe village on the RP1030 on August 24.[iii] Kalembe is about 21 miles north of Kitchanga on the RP1030. Wazalendo fighters have attacked M23 positions in Kalembe sporadically since early August.[iv]
Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near Nyabiondo in Masisi on the RP529. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendos attacked an M23 position in a remote area near Kashebere on the RP529 in the Luberike group in Walikale district on August 22.[v] Kashebere is about eight miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529. M23 has clashed frequently with Wazalendo fighters in Luberike and the nearby Waloa Yungu group since early August.[vi]
Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu
Nothing significant to report.
Major Political Developments
Nothing significant to report.
[i] https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/25/masisi-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-et-les-wazalendo-saffrontent-buabo; https://x.com/HeritierBarak/status/1959968131570446548
[ii] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/08/04/actualite/securite/nord-kivu-4-morts-la-suite-des-affrontements-meurtriers-entre-m23-afc; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/25/masisi-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-et-les-wazalendo-saffrontent-buabo
[iii] https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/25/retour-au-calme-kalongekalembe-apres-une-nuit-tendue-suite-aux-affrontements-entre-les; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/08/25/masisi-1-mort-et-7-blesses-lors-dune-incursion-des-wazalendo-a-kalembe
[iv] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1952659320178397593; https://x.com/michombero/status/1952648423229841758
[v] https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/23/walikale-retour-au-calme-bueni-apres-des-affrontements-entre-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-et; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/08/walikale-des-affrontements-entre-lafc23-et-les-wazalendo-signales-pres-de-kashebere
[vi] https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/08/walikale-des-affrontements-entre-lafc23-et-les-wazalendo-signales-pres-de-kashebere; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/09/walikale-une-attaque-des-rebelles-de-lafcm23-repoussee-pres-de-buhimba; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/14/walikale-encore-une-attaque-des-rebelles-de-lafcm23-buhimba; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/18/walikale-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-en-provenance-de-kibati-attaquent-kaliki; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/18/walikale-apres-machumbi-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-sinstallent-egalement-sur-le-mont-bueni; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/19/walikale-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-et-les-wazalendo-se-sont-de-nouveau-affrontes-pres-de; https://actualite dot cd/2025/08/20/walikale-une-nouvelle-position-des-rebelles-de-lafcm23-erigee-pres-de-kaliki-apres-une