Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: June 6, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Qatar presented a draft peace proposal to the DRC government and M23 after peace talks had stalled due to non-starter demands made by both sides. M23 reportedly clashed with the Congolese army and continued its advance in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 removed Manu Birato as the South Kivu governor. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 on the RN2 in northern South Kivu.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 on the RN2 in northern South Kivu. The Congolese news outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near Kabamba village in the Mabingu group on the RN2 on June 6.[i] M23 repelled the attack and pushed the Wazalendos back from Kabamba toward the surrounding hills.[ii]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 reportedly clashed with the Congolese army and continued its advance in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with the Congolese army in a remote village in the Kisimba group in the Kisimba-Ikobo Primate Reserve in Walikale district on June 4.[iii] The outlet reported that the village and its nearby areas are close to several other villages in Kisimba group whose residents recently fled from M23 due to M23’s advance in the area in late May and early June.[iv] CTP previously reported that M23 has begun building up forces near Pinga—a key government-controlled gateway town near the Masisi and Walikale district borders—including in the Kisimba group, where M23 reportedly announced its intention to attack Pinga.[v]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Qatar presented a draft peace proposal to the DRC government and M23 after peace talks had stalled.[vi] Qatar presented the plan after the two sides negotiated for months but had “engaged on the core issue underlying the conflict” in the latest round of talks.[vii] A source close to the talks told Reuters on June 5 that the two sides would “consult their leaders before resuming talks” on an unknown date.[viii]

The Qatari draft proposal came after the talks were reportedly deadlocked due to non-starter demands made by both sides. Several sources, including M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, said that the M23 delegation left the Qatari capital without making concrete steps toward an agreement after more than 30 days of discussions.[ix] French media reported on June 5 that the DRC demanded that M23 “withdraws from the towns that it controls” before another round of talks.[x] M23 demanded that the Congolese army withdraw from Walikale town in North Kivu and that the DRC government release detained M23 cadres.[xi] An M23 source close to the talks told Reuters on June 5 that the draft peace proposal was outdated and “had nothing to do with what we proposed and takes more into account” the DRC’s demands than M23’s.[xii] CTP previously assessed that these demands would impede progress in further talks.[xiii] A source close to the talks told French media on June 6 that future talks would aim to “resolve outstanding differences.”[xiv]

Kanyuka confirmed in an interview with the Congolese news outlet Kivu Morning Post that another round of talks could occur soon but blamed the DRC government for the lack of progress.[xv] Kanyuka accused the DRC government of undermining peace negotiations by discriminating against the Tutsi-led M23 and continuing to call M23 “terrorists,” seeking a military solution to the conflict, and backing “an internal front” of pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters who have sown insecurity in M23-controlled areas.[xvi] CTP assessed that Wazalendo and other anti-Tutsi militias are a long-term obstacle to peace efforts.[xvii]

M23 removed Manu Birato as the South Kivu governor. AFC leaders Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa signed off on a communiqué issued on social media on June 6 that appointed Birato to a position based in Goma that focuses on promoting business investment in M23-occupied areas.[xviii] A top M23 official in South Kivu had reportedly accused Birato of embezzlement from an M23-run electricity company in South Kivu and asked Nangaa to remove Manu Birato as governor on June 2.[xix] Rumors circulated on social media that M23 appointed Marcelin Cishambo, a loyalist to former DRC President Joseph Kabila and former South Kivu governor under the DRC government, as the new governor.[xx] A source close to Cishambo told the Congolese news outlet Kivu Morning Post that the rumor was “unfounded.”[xxi]