Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: September 3, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is set to host a regional peace conference that includes various Congolese opposition leaders and M23 this week. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. M23 attacked Wazalendo fighters in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters south of the Masisi district capital in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

M23 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo fighters in two villages in the Bukombo group in Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru on September 3.[i] Kivu Morning Post reported that the Wazalendo fighters belong to the Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Défense du Peuple (CMC-FDP), which is an ethnic Hutu militia that has ties to the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR).[ii]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 repelled a Wazalendo attack near Nyabiondo in Masisi district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 repelled the attack in Kibati on the RP529 on August 31.[iii] Kibati is about 13 miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529. Actualite.cd reported that M23 had reinforced its positions in Kibati and Kashebere, about six miles east from Kibati on the RP529 toward Nyabiondo, on August 27.[iv]

M23 attacked Wazalendo fighters in a remote area in Walikale district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo positions in Banakindi locality in the Kisimba group on September 1.[v] CTP is unable to verify the location of Banakindi. The Kisimba group is located roughly 12 miles northeast of Pinga, a military and logistics hub on the RP1030 in Masisi district. Actualite.cd reported on several occasions that M23 had deployed additional fighters to Kisimba and the nearby Ikobo group and ordered local populations in the area to evacuate ahead of planned M23 operations late last week and early this week.[vi]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters south of the Masisi district capital. Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in Kazinga, roughly 17 miles southwest of Masisi, on September 2.[vii] M23 last clashed with Wazalendos in Kazinga in late July.[viii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages near Kaniola—six miles west of Walungu town on a local road—on August 30 and September 1.[ix] The Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that the August 30 clashes occurred in three villages about three miles south of Kaniola on a local road, including Cimbulungu, as M23 attempted to advance toward Nzibira, which is about 15 miles south of Kaniola.[x] Radio Maendeleo reported that M23 then advanced about two miles south from the Cimbulungu area and clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Budodo village on the road to Nzibira on September 1.[xi]

Major Political Developments

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is set to host a regional peace conference that includes various Congolese opposition leaders and M23 this week. Thabo Mbeki’s foundation will host the second annual African Peace and Security Dialogue conference near Johannesburg in South Africa from September 3 to September 6.[xii] Mbeki’s foundation plans to facilitate informal discussions on the political and security crisis in the eastern DRC, among other crises across the African conflict.[xiii] Over 175 leaders will attend the conference, including Congolese civil society leaders, religious leaders, and several Congolese opposition figures.[xiv] Former DRC President Joseph Kabila confirmed his participation, along with veteran opposition leader Moïse Katumbi, among at least six other opposition figures.[xv] Corneille Nangaa, the head of M23’s political branch, said that M23 sent a “large” delegation to the conference.[xvi]

The Congolese government officially declined to participate in the talks on August 28.[xvii] The Congolese communications minister criticized Mbeki as "partisan"  and said that the Congolese government is already involved in several peace tracks with respect to the eastern DRC conflict.[xviii] DRC President Félix Tshisekedi said in a speech on August 30 that the Congolese government would not commit to a dialogue effort led by foreign mediators and that there would “never be any dialogue outside of my initiative.”[xix]