Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: July 10, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters and pro-Congolese government forces each claimed control of new positions as clashes continued in the South Kivu highlands. M23 reportedly reinforced its positions in southern Lubero and eastern Walikale districts in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government forces clashed with M23 along the RP1030 near the Masisi-Walikale border in North Kivu. M23 reportedly conducted a cordon and search operation in Goma.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

M23 reportedly conducted a cordon and search operation in Goma. Congolese government-aligned media sources reported that M23 arrested close to 50 people, including minors, in a cordon and search operation in the Mabanga-Nord and Kasika districts in Karisimbi commune in Goma on July 6 and 7.[1] The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd cited local sources who claimed that M23 transported the detainees suspected of committing burglary to the nearby Katindo military camp.[2] M23’s spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, denied the reports in a statement on social media on July 10.[3] The last notable cordon and search operation M23 conducted was in South Kivu in April.[4]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

M23 reportedly reinforced its positions in southern Lubero and eastern Walikale districts in North Kivu. Congolese government-aligned media sources reported that the group has reinforced its positions with additional troops and weapons in Kitsombiro, Alimbongo, and Bingi villages in southern Lubero, and Buleusa and Kateku villages in eastern Walikale since early July.[5] Kitsombiro is roughly 14 miles south of Lubero town on the RN2. Buleusa is about 20 miles west of Kanyabayonga town on the Rutshuru-Lubero district border.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters and pro-Congolese government forces each claimed control of new positions as clashes continued in the South Kivu highlands. CTP reported previously that Twirwaneho captured Mikenge village, which is around 15 miles north of Minembwe town in Fizi district on the RP527, and other nearby villages as Twirwaneho also made gains around Minembwe and toward Point Zéro village between June 26 and July 3.[6] Point Zéro is an operationally significant hilltop about 15 miles east of Minembwe that controls access to Minembwe, the Mwenga highlands to the north, and the lowlands toward Fizi and Baraka towns and Lake Tanganyika to the south. CTP also reported previously that a drone attack attributed to M23-aligned forces targeted Mulima village, roughly eight miles west of Point Zéro on a local road to Fizi town, on July 3.[7] Local sources in Fizi claimed that the drone attack on Mulima killed 19 troops from the Congolese army (FARDC) and the Burundian army (FDNB), including possibly two high-ranking FDNB officers.[8] The Burundian media outlet SOS Médias Burundi reported that attack drones, likely operated by M23-aligned forces, targeted three vehicles carrying munitions and FDNB troops in the Mulima strike.[9] Twirwaneho captured Point Zéro on July 4, after pro-Congolese government forces reportedly had abandoned several positions and retreated south toward Fizi town.[10] Pro-Congolese government forces had captured Point Zéro in an offensive in late January 2026.[11] Twirwaneho reportedly captured several additional villages in between Point Zéro and Minembwe on July 4.[12] SOS Médias Burundi reported that attack drones, likely operated by M23-aligned forces, targeted a boat transporting DRC coalition troops to the front line in the highlands on Lake Tanganyika off the Ubwari Peninsula, after Point Zéro and several other villages had fallen to Twirwaneho.[13]

The FARDC denounced the recent drone attacks in a statement and claimed that M23 and the Rwandan army (RDF) conducted two drone strikes using a Turkish-made medium-altitude long-endurance TB2 attack drone on a civilian convoy of motorcycles near Baraka town, roughly 65 miles from Minembwe by road in Fizi district, on July 5.[14] The civilians in Baraka reportedly may have died from a lightning strike, however.[15] Twirwaneho reportedly captured additional villages near Point Zéro, including Gakenke, Muko, Nyaruhinga, and Musambia, as fighting continued on July 5.[16] Twirwaneho then reportedly captured Mulima on July 6, after FARDC, FDNB, and Wazalendo troops had withdrawn.[17] The FARDC claimed that M23 and the RDF conducted a drone attack using TB2- and TB3-type drones on Bidjaga, reported to be east of Point Zéro, on July 6.[18] The FARDC claimed that they conducted counterattacks against Twirwaneho and recaptured at least three positions from Twirwaneho south of Minembwe near Rugezi at Kimete, Wihene, and Kashamata villages on July 6.[19] Kimete and Wihene are roughly 21 and 17 miles south of Minembwe on a local road, respectively. Videos circulated on social media showing Twirwaneho fighters displaying captured first-person view (FPV) drones, which they claim had been seized from DRC coalition forces in the fighting and would begin deploying against enemy forces, on July 7.[20]

Fighting reportedly continued at the front line near Point Zéro and Mulima and in Mikenge, about 15 miles north of Minembwe town on the RP527, on July 8.[21] Fighting also reportedly continued around Rugezi and Wihene on July 8.[22] The Fizi district administrator and pro-Congolese government sources claimed that M23-aligned forces conducted drone attacks on Rugezi, Mulima, Point Zéro, and other villages in the highlands on July 8.[23] Pro-Congolese government media sources claimed on social media on July 9 that RDF and M23 reinforcements coming from the Bafuleru chiefdom in Uvira district to the northeast of the Fizi highlands were moving toward Minembwe.[24] The FARDC issued an internal statement calling on troops engaged in operational areas to turn off their mobile phones and refrain from sharing information on troop positions, troop numbers, or images of operations on social media on July 9.[25] Telecommunications had reportedly been cut in Fizi district around July 4.[26] Twirwaneho then reportedly captured Kipupu village, the capital of the Itombwe sector in Fizi about 15 miles north of Mikenge on the RP527, on July 10.[27]

Senior M23 military and political officials visited the highlands after Point Zéro fell. Freddy Kaniki, Twirwaneho’s political head and the Deputy Coordinator in charge of economic, financial, and development affairs for M23, traveled to Minembwe and Point Zéro on July 7.[28] Kanyuka visited also Point Zéro on July 7.[29] Kanyuka, Kaniki, and M23’s other Deputy Coordinator in charge of political and diplomatic affairs, Bertrand Bisimwa, held a meeting in Minembwe, along with other M23-aligned leaders, on July 8.[30] A picture circulated on social media of General Bernard Byamungu, M23’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Operations, including for operations in M23’s third defense zone covering South Kivu, in Point Zéro on July 9.[31]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Pro-Congolese government forces clashed with M23 along the RP1030 near the Masisi-Walikale border in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that the FARDC and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack on Minjenje village, about 15 miles east of Pinga on the RP1030, on July 6.[32] Wazalendo fighters reportedly conducted attacks on M23 positions near Kalembe, Kalonge, Kivuye, and Mpati villages near Masisi-Walikale border on the RP1030 on July 8.[33]  Kalembe and Kalonge are around three and six miles southeast of Minjenje on the RP1030, whereas Kivuye and Mbati are around 15 and 20 miles southwest of Kalonge on local roads, respectively.

M23 reportedly conducted drone attacks on enemy positions near the RP529 in Walikale district. M23 reportedly used drones to target Wazalendo and FARDC positions in Waloa Yungu group, including in Buhimba village, on July 4.[34] Buhimba is around 12 miles west of Nyabiondo in Masisi district on the RP529. The Waloa Yungu group is near the border between Masisi and Walikale, its eastern edge touching the Osso Banyungu sector in Masisi.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Nothing significant to report.

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.