Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: October 10, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST 

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Key Takeaway: The Congolese government and M23 will reportedly discuss a Qatari-proposed draft peace agreement in the next round of talks next week. The Congolese army bombed and disabled a key M23-controlled bridge on the RP1030 in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters repelled M23 attacks in a village on the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters recaptured a village from M23 near Nyabiondo on the RP529 in Walikale district.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

Nothing significant to report. 

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 

The Congolese army (FARDC) bombed and disabled a key M23-controlled bridge on the RP1030 in North Kivu. The FARDC reportedly bombed and disabled the Minjenje bridge on the RP1030 on the border between Masisi and Walikale districts using attack drones on October 8.[i] The bridge is about three miles southeast of Mpeti, which is M23’s forward operating base on the RP1030. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that the FARDC conducted the strike after M23 had nearly repaired the bridge from a previous FARDC attack in late September.[ii] FARDC sources previously told Congolese media that the late September strike on the bridge intended to thwart M23’s advance on Pinga, a key military and logistics hub on the RP1030.[iii]

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters repelled M23 attacks in a village on the RP1030 in Walikale district. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled the attacks on Katobi village on the RP1030 on October 8.[iv] Katobi is about two miles west of Mpeti and the last significant village before Pinga nine miles further west on the RP1030. Wazalendo fighters had recaptured Katobi from M23 in mid-September.[v]

Wazalendo fighters captured a village north of the RP1030 in Walikale district. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters captured Kabalangiriro village in the Kisimba group from M23 and pushed M23 fighters back to the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru district on October 8.[vi] CTP is unable to verify the location of Kabalangiriro. The Kisimba group is located near Mpeti, roughly 12 miles east of Pinga on a forested route.

Wazalendo fighters recaptured a village from M23 near Nyabiondo on the RP529 in Walikale district. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked and dislodged M23 from four of its five positions in Kibati village on the RP529 on October 10.[vii] Kibati is about 13 miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters launched the attacks in Kibati from about six miles west on the RP529 in Miba village.[viii] M23 has controlled Kibati since April 2025.

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in southern Masisi. Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked Wazalendos and captured parts of Ndete village in the Katoyi sector on October 9.[ix] CTP is unable to verify the precise location of Ndete. The Katoyi sector is in southern Masisi on the border with South Kivu. M23 has clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Katoyi sector on several occasions in October, including in Remeka—about 13 miles southwest of Rubaya.[x]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu 

M23 attacked FARDC and Wazalendo fighter positions north of Nzibira in southern Kabare district in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported that M23 attacked FARDC-Wazalendo positions near Luhago village in the Nindja chiefdom in southern Kabare on October 8.[xi] Luhago is in a remote area about eight miles north of Nzibira on a local road. M23 had clashed with pro-Congolese government forces in Luhago on October 7.[xii]

Major Political Developments

The Congolese government and M23 will reportedly discuss a Qatari-proposed draft peace agreement in the next round of talks next week. CTP reported previously that the two sides plan to meet in Qatar for the next round of talks on October 13.[xiii] The French state media outlet Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported on October 9 that the two sides will negotiate a draft peace agreement proposed by Qatar.[xiv] The upcoming talks will also reportedly focus on the issue of prisoner exchange, the role of UN forces in M23-controlled areas, and finalizing the structure, implementation, and monitoring of a permanent ceasefire mechanism.[xv] RFI cited an insider source to the talks on October 9 who said that “several international partners”—likely referring to the African Union, the European Union, and the United States—will observe the next round as part of a broader push to reach an agreement.[xvi] The outlet reported that former Malian Foreign Minister Zahabi Ould Sidi Mohamed recently joined Qatar’s mediation team.[xvii]