Congo War Security Review

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

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Read CTP’s latest analysis on peace talks between the DRC, M23, and Rwanda and Uganda’s role in the DRC in the latest Africa File here. To receive the Africa File and Congo War Security Review via email, please subscribe here.

Key Takeaway: Former DRC President Joseph Kabila traveled to M23-occupied Goma in North Kivu where he met with local officials. Qatari-mediated peace talks between the DRC and M23 have stalled. The British news outlet Financial Times reported that the United States aims to finalize a broader peace deal with the DRC and Rwanda by the end of June. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. M23 captured several remote villages in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 captured several remote villages in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 captured at least four villages—including Rusamambu, which is roughly 30 miles west of Kanyabayonga in Lubero district on a local road—in the Ikobo group from pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters on May 26.[i] The Ikobo group is located in the Kisimba-Ikobo Primate Reserve in Walikale district. M23 has repeatedly clashed with Wazalendo fighters for control of villages in the Ikobo group in 2025.[ii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

An independent Congolese journalist reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. The journalist reported on social media that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in three unspecified villages near Walungu town on May 24.[iii] M23 last clashed with Wazalendo fighters near Walungu town in mid-April 2025.[iv]

Major Political Developments

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila traveled to Goma in North Kivu where he met with local officials. Kabila’s entourage and senior M23 officials, including Corneille Nangaa—head of Alliance Fleuve Congo, M23’s political branch—claimed that Kabila arrived in the M23-occupied North Kivu provincial capital on May 25.[v] Nangaa said in a statement on social media on May 27 that M23 “welcomed the arrival” of Kabila who “made a good choice” to travel to Goma “rather than remain in forced exile.”[vi] Senior officials in Kabila’s political party confirmed Kabila’s presence in Goma.[vii] Kabila last traveled to the DRC in late 2023. No photos or videos of Kabila’s presence in Goma have circulated, but M23 and Rwandan troops have reportedly provided security at Kabila’s residence in Goma.[viii]  

Kabila has held several meetings with close associates and local political, security, and social figures in Goma since May 26 to develop a political agenda for the rest of Kabila’s trip to the eastern DRC.[ix] The DRC government spokesperson denounced Kabila’s visit in a press briefing on May 27 and claimed that Kabila was “positioning himself as the rebel leader” along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.[x] M23 has denied that Kabila will assume a leadership role in the Rwandan-backed rebellion.[xi] The Congolese news outlet 7 sur 7 published an unverified claim on May 27 that Kabila visited M23’s main military base north of Goma in Rutshuru district shortly after he arrived in Goma.[xii] Kabila plans to hold public meetings with citizens in Goma to discuss local and national issues on May 28.[xiii]

The French news outlet Le Monde reported that Qatari-mediated peace talks between the DRC and M23 have stalled.  Le Monde quoted an unspecified source “close to Corneille Nangaa” on May 26 who said that the discussions in Doha, the Qatari capital, are “completely blocked.”[xiv] French state media reported in early May that the latest round of the closed-door talks did not produce concrete results and that both sides still disagreed on several issues that prevent the process from moving into more substantive discussions.[xv] CTP previously assessed that these disputes have significantly impeded progress toward a ceasefire or a broader peace deal and are an obstacle to future talks.[xvi]

The British news outlet Financial Times reported that the United States aims to finalize a broader peace deal with the DRC and Rwanda by the end of June. Financial Times reported on May 25 that the United States is pushing to secure a bilateral investment deal with the DRC and a separate peace agreement with Rwanda by late June.[xvii] The outlet reported that significant obstacles to both agreements persist, however. Financial Times reported that the DRC “wants first to regain control of territory” that M23 captured in 2025, including Goma and Bukavu, before signing a peace agreement with Rwanda.[xviii] Financial Times reported that the DRC has demanded that M23 withdraw from areas it has captured since January 2025 and for Rwandan troops deployed in the eastern DRC to support M23 to withdraw to Rwanda.[xix] Kagame’s spokesperson told Financial Times that Rwanda’s military presence in the eastern DRC is “necessary as long as threats and the cause of insecurity in the DRC persists.”[xx] Financial Times reported that Massad Boulos, President Trump’s senior advisor for Africa, requested that the DRC and Rwanda “iron out some of the differences” in a new slate of talks in Washington next week.[xxi]

Amnesty International reported on May 27 that M23 has committed human rights abuses and potential war crimes in areas that it controls. M23 has arbitrarily detained and tortured suspected pro-Congolese government fighters in “inhumane” and overcrowded detention centers in Goma, according to the report.[xxii] Amnesty International said that M23 has kidnapped people in Goma and Bukavu—the South Kivu provincial capital—and demanded ransom payments from family members to secure their release.[xxiii] Amnesty International reported that M23’s actions have violated international humanitarian law and could be considered war crimes.[xxiv] M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka characterized the report as “grotesque and unsubstantiated accusations” in a statement on social media on May 27.[xxv]

M23 appointed additional finance officials for its parallel administration in the eastern DRC. M23 appointed a director general and two deputy officials for M23’s economic, financial, and insurance regulatory sectors in areas that it controls on May 26.[xxvi]