Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: December 1, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Read CTP’s full analysis on the recent agreement between the Congolese government and M23 rebels in DRC-M23 peace framework in DRC-M23 Doha Peace Framework—A Long Road Ahead: Africa File Special Edition.

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

Key Takeaway: The United States will host the Congolese and Rwandan presidents to sign the US-backed peace framework on December 4. M23 advanced toward the Mwenga district capital in South Kivu. M23 clashed with Congolese army and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the border between Masisi and Walikale districts in North Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces in several areas along the RP529 in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas     

M23 repelled a pro-Congolese government Wazalendo attack in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 positions in Kyahemba village, about nine miles northwest of Kitchanga on the RP1030, in the Bukombo group in Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru district on November 24.[i] M23 has clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Bukombo frequently since around mid-October.

M23 allegedly killed nearly 80 civilians in Rutshuru in late November. A Congolese non-governmental organization told the Congolese media outlet NouveauMedia.cd on November 29 that M23 “executed” at least 78 civilians near Kibirizi village in northern Bwito between November 26 and 28.[ii] CTP is unable to verify this claim. CTP assessed previously that M23 has used indiscriminate violence to intimidate civilians as part of its wider campaign against pro-Congolese government militia fighters in areas that it controls in 2025.[iii]

M23 killed an armed fighter in Sake town in Masisi district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that an M23 patrol unit killed an armed assailant suspected of looting during clashes in the Bikali neighborhood in Sake town in Masisi on November 23.[iv] M23 has conducted frequent clearing and patrol operations in Sake in 2025.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia   

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie 

M23 reportedly killed at least a dozen suspected Wazalendo fighters near Katana on the RN2 in South Kivu. Congolese media and officials reported that M23 “summarily executed” between eight to 22 people described as civilians amid clashes with Wazalendo fighters in several villages near Katana on the RN2 in Kabare district on November 23.[v] A local non-governmental organization claimed that M23 executed the civilians for their alleged ties to a Wazalendo group.[vi] Wazalendo fighters have conducted multiple attacks on M23 positions near the RN2 in recent weeks.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani   

M23 clashed with Congolese army (FARDC) and Wazalendo fighters near the border between Masisi and Walikale districts in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that an FARDC fighter jet bombed M23 positions in Kibanda, which is close to Kasopo village near the RP529, on November 21.[vii] M23 reportedly captured Mahanga village, about four miles south of Kasopo in Masisi, on November 22, after pro-Congolese forces had thwarted M23’s attempted capture of the village on November 21 .[viii] M23 then reportedly captured Buhimba village—about four miles west of Mahanga on a local road—in Walikale district on November 23, before the FARDC and Wazalendos conducted a counterattack and recaptured the village from M23 on November 24.[ix] Buhimba reportedly serves as an important supply point for pro-Congolese government forces.[x] Actualite.cd reported that M23 fighters from Kazinga—roughly eight miles southeast of Mahanga in Masisi—clashed with Wazalendos in Kautu village near Mahanga on November 24.[xi]

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces in several areas along the RP529. Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near Nyabiondo town on November 23.[xii] Clashes reportedly intensified on November 27 and 28, when pro-Congolese government fighters attacked M23 around Nyabiondo and pushed M23 fighters back to Nyabiondo after capturing Kinyumba village—about three miles north of Nyabiondo.[xiii] Actualite.cd reported separately on December 1 that M23 began reinforcing its positions in Lukweti, which is about 10 miles north of Kinyumba on a local road, when it lost control of Kinyumba.[xiv] Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 using heavy and light weaponry in Kibati—14 miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529—and nearby Kashebere village on the RP529 in Walikale on November 27.[xv] Kibati is M23’s forward operating position on the RP529. Congolese media reported that an FARDC fighter jet bombed M23 positions in Kibati and Kasopo in Masisi on November 27.[xvi]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near the RP1030 in Masisi district. Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Kalengera village, nine miles southwest of Mweso town, in Masisi district on November 23.[xvii] The outlet reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos in Kivuye village on November 26.[xviii] Kivuye is about 13 miles southwest of Kashuga on the RP1030. M23 last clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Kivuye in early November, when Wazalendos reportedly attacked and dislodged M23 from the village.[xix] Wazalendo fighters then reportedly attacked M23 in Bweru village, which is about four miles northeast of Kivuye toward the RP1030, on November 27.[xx]

Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack north of the RP1030 in Walikale district. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack in Mpombi village in the Kisimba group in Walikale on November 25.[xxi] Mpombi is about two miles north of Mpeti on the RP1030. Actualite.cd cited a local source who claimed that M23 fighters from Mpeti tried to bypass FARDC-Wazalendo positions on the RP1030 between Mpeti and Pinga to attack Pinga, a military and logistics hub on the RP1030, before Wazalendo fighters intercepted them and pushed the rebel fighters back to Mpeti.[xxii] Pro-Congolese government forces last clashed with M23 along the northern stretch of the RP1030 in mid-November.[xxiii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu   

M23 advanced toward the Mwenga district capital in South Kivu. M23 attacked FARDC and Wazalendo fighters in at least four villages in the Ntondo group in Burhinyi chiefdom in northern Mwenga district on November 23.[xxiv] The Ntondo group is in a remote area roughly 20 miles west of the Twangiza industrial gold mine in southern Walungu district on a local road. M23 reportedly clashed with pro-Congolese government forces and captured at least four villages on the RN2 near the border between Mwenga and Walungu districts, including Kilungutwe, on November 25.[xxv] Kilungutwe is about 19 miles south of Walungu town on the RN2. Wazalendo and FARDC fighters reportedly abandoned their positions in Kilungutwe and retreated south after M23 took Kilungutwe.[xxvi] Many pro-Congolese government fighters reportedly fled to Mwenga town and Kamituga, which is about 30 miles south of Mwenga on the RN2.[xxvii] M23 then advanced about seven miles southward on the RN2 and clashed with Burundian army elements in Kasika village on November 25 before capturing it on November 26.[xxviii] Kasika is about 14 miles north of Mwenga town. Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly bombed M23 positions in Kasika on November 26 and 27.[xxix] M23 advanced about three miles from Kasika and captured Kidasa village on the RN2 on November 27.[xxx] M23 then advanced seven miles south of Kidasa to Kalambi village around November 30.[xxxi] Congolese media sources reported unconfirmed claims on social media on November 30 that pro-Congolese government forces destroyed a key bridge on the Lwindi River about a mile south of Kalambi and five miles north of Mwenga town to prevent an M23 advance on the district capital.[xxxii]

M23 advanced into Shabunda district on the RP503 in South Kivu. Congolese media reports from late November confirmed earlier reports that M23 captured Nyalubemba and Kimbili villages on the RP503 in Shabunda after launching an offensive on November 20.[xxxiii] Nyalubemba and Kimbili are about five and 10 miles west of Mayimingi village on the RP503, respectively. M23 had taken control of Mayimingi in its first confirmed capture in Shabunda on November 16.[xxxiv]

Major Political Developments   

The United States will host the Congolese and Rwandan presidents to sign the US-backed peace framework on December 4. US President Donald Trump will host Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington, DC, to ratify the US-backed peace agreement from late June on December 4.[xxxv] US officials have reportedly invited several African heads of state to witness the ceremony, including the leaders of Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Qatar, and Togo.[xxxvi] The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on November 28 that mediators have asked Kenya to be one of the guarantors of the agreement.[xxxvii] Africa Intelligence reported separately that Tshisekedi is also expected to sign the bilateral economic deal with the United States on December 4.[xxxviii]