Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: October 20, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST 

To receive the Africa File and Congo War Security Review via email, please subscribe here. 

Follow CTP on X, LinkedIn, and BlueSky for daily updates. 

Read CTP’s latest analysis on the war in the eastern DRC in the weekly Africa File here.   

Key Takeaway: The Congolese army conducted airstrikes on M23 positions on the RP1030 in North Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near Masisi town and along the RP529 in western Masisi district in North Kivu. M23 repelled a Wazalendo attack in north-central Masisi district. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages south of Nzibira in Walungu district in South Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 positions north of Goma in Nyiragongo district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 in at least three villages on the outskirts of Goma in the Mudja group in Nyiragongo on October 19. [i] Mudja is about three miles north of the Karisimbi neighborhood in Goma. The M23-appointed Nyiragongo district administrator denied reports of a Wazalendo presence in Mudja on October 20.[ii]

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) conducted airstrikes on M23 positions on the RP1030 in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that two FARDC fighter jets bombed M23 positions in the Kisimba group on the RP1030 along the border between Walikale and Masisi districts, including in Buhaya and Mpeti villages—10 miles east of Pinga on the RP1030—on October 18.[iii] Mpeti is M23’s forward operating base on the RP1030 toward Pinga. The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported on social media that FARDC and Wazalendo ground forces repelled an M23 attack on Buhaya on October 18.[iv] M23 denounced the FARDC airstrikes on social media on October 18 as a violation of the Qatar-brokered ceasefire.[v] The FARDC has targeted M23 positions in the Kisimba group in airstrikes on multiple occasions since September.

M23 repelled a Wazalendo attack in north-central Masisi district. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 repelled a Wazalendo attack in Nyenge village in the Bashali Mokoto group in Bashali chiefdom in north-central Masisi on October 19.[vi] Nyenge is about 13 miles west of Mweso near the RP1030 on local roads. M23 has clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Bashali Mokoto group regularly since around October 13.[vii]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near Masisi town and along the RP529 in western Masisi. Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo positions in Shoa village, about four miles northwest of Masisi town, on October 19.[viii] Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 positions in Nyabiondo on October 20.[ix] Kivu Morning Post reported on October 20 that fighting also took place in Kaandja village, about two miles from Nyabiondo on the RP529.[x]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages south of Nzibira in Walungu district in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in at least four villages in the Kamisimbi group, including Ndiba, in Walungu on October 20.[xi] Ndiba is about 11 miles south of Nzibira along a local road.

Major Political Developments 

Nothing significant to report.