Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: November 7, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST  

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Key Takeaway: The FARDC advanced a campaign to facilitate the surrender of fighters from the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). M23-aligned militia fighters captured several villages from pro-Congolese government forces in the Fizi and Mwenga highlands in South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters repelled M23 attacks along the RP503 in South Kivu. M23 conducted a cordon and search operation in Masisi town in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 in Katsiru village, about seven miles east of Mweso on the RP1030, on November 5 and 6.[i] Wazalendo fighters had attacked M23 in Katsiru in early November and ambushed an M23 contingent in nearby Mashango village that killed at least 18 civilians on November 3.[ii]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

Nothing significant to report.  

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23-aligned militia fighters captured several villages from pro-Congolese government forces in the Fizi and Mwenga highlands in South Kivu. Pro-Congolese government forces had attacked M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters north of Minembwe town, including in Mikenge and Bilalombili villages on the RP527, near the border between Fizi and Mwenga districts on November 4.[iii] Twirwaneho fighters then attacked pro-Congolese government positions and captured a villages north of Mikenge on the RP527 and at least four villages south of Bilalombili on November 5 and 6.[iv] Pro-Congolese government forces conducted a counterattack on Mikenge and another nearby village on November 6.[v] Twirwaneho fighters also captured Bichumbe from pro-Congolese government forces, a remote village east of Minembwe town on November 6.[vi] Congolese media reported that the Twirwaneho offensives in the Fizi and Mwenga highlands likely aim to consolidate control around Minembwe and strengthen its supply lines between Minembwe and Mikenge.[vii]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani  

M23 conducted a cordon and search operation in Masisi town in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that M23 closed off several roads around the town and conducted the clearing operation in several neighborhoods and villages around Masisi town on November 5.[viii] The outlet cited local sources who claimed that M23 arrested between 200 to 400 young people and forcibly recruited them into the group’s ranks.[ix]

Wazalendo fighters captured a village near the RP1030 in Masisi district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked and dislodged M23 from Kivuye village in the Luhanga locality in the Bashali chiefdom in north-central Masisi district on November 6.[x] Kivuye is about 13 miles southwest of Kashuga on the RP1030.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Wazalendo fighters repelled M23 attacks along the RP503 in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled M23 attacks on Chulwe and Kibandamangobo villages along the RP503 in Kabare and Walungu districts, respectively, on November 6, marking the first significant kinetic activity on the RP503 since early October.[xi] The two villages are about 11 and 15 miles west of Nzibira along the RP503, respectively.

Major Political Developments  

The FARDC advanced a campaign to facilitate the surrender of fighters from the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). The Congolese army (FARDC) reportedly sent senior officers to government-controlled areas in Walikale district, including Walikale town and Pinga, to coordinate an awareness campaign for the FDLR’s surrender on November 5.[xii]  The FARDC delegation said that the campaign will soon extend to other districts in North Kivu, including Masisi and Rutshuru.[xiii] The FDLR has yet to surrender despite pressure from the Congolese government as part of the US-backed peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda since early October.