Congo War Security Review

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

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Key Takeaway: Corneille Nangaa, the head of M23’s political branch, gave a speech calling for solutions to the “real causes” of conflict after the United States brokered a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. M23 repelled several pro-Congolese government Wazalendo attacks in Walungu district south of Bukavu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a town on the border between Masisi and Walikale districts in North Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the RN2 road in South Kivu.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the RN2 road in South Kivu. Independent Congolese journalist Daniel Michombero reported on social media that M23 clashed with Wazalendos near Mushweshe village on June 30.[i] Mushweshe is about ten miles east of Kavumu village on the RN2 road and 22 miles north of Bukavu, the South Kivu provincial capital.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a village on the border between Masisi and Walikale districts in North Kivu. The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with  Wazalendos in Nyabiondo in Masisi district on the RP529 on June 29.[ii] Nyabiondo is roughly 10 miles west of the Masisi district capital on the RP529. Actualite.cd reported separately that M23 has been reinforcing its positions with troops and military equipment near Nyabiondo since June 26.[iii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

M23 repelled several Wazalendo attacks near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. Congolese media reported that Wazalendo elements attacked M23 in several villages in the Kaniola group, roughly six miles west of Walungu town, on June 26 and June 27.[iv] Kaniola is about 24 miles south of Bukavu on the RN2 in Walungu district. M23 deployed reinforcements and heavy weaponry to Kaniola and Walungu town to launch counterattacks on Wazalendos on June 28.[v]  

Major Political Developments

Corneille Nangaa, the head of M23’s political branch, gave a speech calling for solutions to the “real causes” of conflict after the United States brokered a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. Nangaa called the peace agreement a “useful” step forward but “limited” in nature because it addresses only a “small part” of the “real causes” of the M23 conflict in the eastern DRC.[vi] Nangaa characterized the notion that the conflict in the eastern DRC is mainly between the DRC and Rwanda as “deception.”[vii] Nangaa criticized the economic aspects of the US-brokered agreement as an “attempted selloff” of Congolese natural resources by DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in a bid to “satisfy ambition and maintain the power of one individual.”[viii] Nangaa accused the DRC government of trying to undermine and “systematically torpedo” Qatari-mediated peace talks with the DRC government.[ix] Nangaa said that M23’s “legitimate demands remain” and that they would not be addressed without an inter-Congolese dialogue.[x] Nangaa claimed that M23 administers more than 13,000 square miles of territory with more than 11 million people in the eastern DRC.[xi]