Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: December 8, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23 advanced rapidly toward Uvira town on the RN5 in South Kivu. The Congolese army conducted numerous airstrikes on M23 positions as fighting continued on the ground in Masisi district in North Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters on the outskirts of Bukavu in South Kivu. M23-aligned forces clashed with pro-Congolese government elements in southern South Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 north of Goma on the RN2 in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet La Prunelle RDC reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near Kisigari village, about 22 miles north of Goma on the RN2 and three miles south of one of M23’s main military bases, in the Bwisha chiefdom in southern Rutshuru district on December 4.[i]

Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 on the RP1030 in Rutshuru. La Prunelle reported that Wazalendos clashed with M23 in Katsiru village on the RP1030 in the Bwito chiefdom in western Rutshuru on December 6.[ii] Katsiru is about 15 miles north of Kitchanga town on the RP1030.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia   

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23 advanced rapidly toward Uvira town on the RN5 in South Kivu. M23 reportedly advanced about four miles south of its position on the RN5 in Luvungi, which it had captured between December 5 and 7, and took control of Bwegera village on December 7.[iii] Burundian army (FDNB) and Congolese army (FARDC) troops and Wazalendo fighters retreated about six miles south of Luvungi to Luberizi on the RN5 around December 6.[iv] M23-aligned forces reportedly captured Rurambo village, roughly 13 miles west of Luvungi in the Uvira highlands, in a supporting effort on December 6, after pro-Congolese government forces withdrew from the area.[v] A significant number of FDNB troops reportedly began withdrawing from the Ruzizi Plain around December 6 after sustaining dozens of casualties in recent days—including the highest ranking Burundian officer in the DRC and several junior officers in an M23 drone strike on December 4.[vi] M23 reportedly captured several FDNB troops as the group advanced down the RN5.[vii] Infighting between FARDC-Wazalendo units near Sange village—about 17 miles south of Luvungi—reportedly resulted in the deaths of dozens of people on December 7 and 8, as the defense against M23 collapsed.[viii] M23 overran pro-Congolese government positions in Luberizi and advanced another 13 miles from Bwegera to capture at least three villages on the RN5 before reaching Sange and capturing the town on December 8.[ix] Sange is about 25 miles north of Uvira. Burundian media reported that Congolese civilians and FARDC-Wazalendo fighters and FDNB troops began fleeing Uvira town “en masse” on December 8.[x]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters on the outskirts of Bukavu in Kabare district. The Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages in the Cirunga group on December 8.[xi] The Cirunga group is about six miles west of Bukavu center. Wazalendo fighters had previously attacked M23 in Cirunga in early December.[xii]

M23-aligned forces clashed with pro-Congolese government elements in southern South Kivu. FDNB and FARDC-Wazalendo forces allegedly killed at least a dozen civilians and detained nearly 50 people in Mikalati village near the RP527—about 30 miles north of Minembwe town—in Fizi district around December 6.[xiii] M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters attacked pro-Congolese government forces in the area after the incident.[xiv] Twirwaneho then reportedly shot down an FARDC helicopter that was providing air support.[xv] A second helicopter that departed from Uvira and was heading south toward Tanganyika province reportedly crashed into Lake Tanganyika near Yungu village in Fizi, although it remains unclear for what cause.[xvi]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

The FARDC conducted numerous airstrikes on M23 positions as fighting continued on the ground in Masisi district in North Kivu. An FARDC attack drone struck two M23 positions in Nyabiondo town on the RP529 on December 6.[xvii] The FARDC had conducted a previous airstrike on M23 near Nyabiondo last week on December 2.[xviii] An FARDC drone then reportedly bombed two M23 positions in Masisi town on December 7.[xix] An FARDC drone also bombed an M23 garrison in Bukombo village, which is about halfway between Nyabiondo and Masisi town on the RP529, on December 7.[xx] The FARDC then targeted an M23 position about seven miles south of Masisi in Katale village on the RP529 on December 8.[xxi] Fighting on the ground in Kinyumba—about three miles north of Nyabiondo—resumed, when M23 reportedly tried to recapture the village from Wazalendo fighters on December 8.[xxii] Wazalendo fighters had captured Kinyumba during an offensive in late November.[xxiii]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters north of the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo fighters in a remote village in the Kisimba group on December 6.[xxiv] The Kisimba group is situated north of the RP1030, roughly ten miles east of Pinga on local roads. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in another area of Kisimba on December 7.[xxv]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

The FARDC recaptured several villages on the RP503 in Shabunda district in South Kivu. The FARDC claimed that it conducted a counteroffensive and recaptured three villages from M23 on the RP503 in Shabunda on December 7. [xxvi] M23 had occupied the villages in early October after it took control of Nzibira town in the adjacent Walungu district.

Major Political Developments   

Nothing significant to report.