Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: July 17, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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

Key Takeaway: The United Nations sanctioned several individuals and entities connected to conflict in the eastern DRC. Congolese army officers traveled to Goma for ceasefire monitoring efforts under the Doha process. The DRC, Rwanda, and observer nations convened for the fifth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting under the Washington Accords. Fighting between M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters and pro-Congolese government forces continued in the South Kivu highlands.

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

Fighting between M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters and pro-Congolese government forces continued in the South Kivu highlands. CTP reported previously that Twirwaneho fighters captured Point Zéro, an operationally significant hilltop about 15 miles east of Minembwe town, in an ongoing campaign to expand and consolidate control over positions surrounding Minembwe town in Fizi district.[1] The DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister of Defense claimed on July 12 that the Rwandan army had recently reinforced its positions in the South Kivu highlands through airborne deployments using the Kavumu airport north of Bukavu.[2] The minister also claimed that Rwanda has increased the use of attack drones against government positions in the highlands.[3] The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on the contents of a confidential FARDC intelligence memo on July 16 that estimated that Turkish-made Bayratkar TB2 medium-altitude long-endurance drones likely operated from an airport in southeastern Rwanda have conducted an average of five drone strikes per day in North and South Kivu since mid-June.[4] M23-aligned journalist Steve Wembi reported on July 12 that the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies, including private military contractors (PMCs), sent reinforcements to Nakiele village, about 17 miles east of Point Zéro on a local road, near the front line with Twirwaneho.[5] Twirwaneho reportedly retook control of three villages in Fizi and Mwenga districts on July 13, including Kiseke village—around 12 miles north of Mikenge on the RP527—and Kipupu village, which is the capital of Itombwe sector about three miles south of Kiseke.[6] The FARDC and pro-government Wazalendo fighters reportedly recaptured Kipupu from Twirwaneho on July 14, however.[7]

The FARDC reportedly reinforced troops along Lake Tanganyika and arrested deserters in Kalemie town. A pro-M23 investigative outlet claimed on July 11 that the FARDC recently deployed seven FARDC generals, 10 colonels, and 20 PMCs to Baraka town.[8] M23-aligned media sources claimed that the FARDC deployed around 10 lightweight combat boats to Kalemie town, the Tanganyika provincial capital, to augment the force’s patrol, surveillance, and transportation capabilities around July 13.[9] M23-aligned media sources circulated claims on social media on July 13 that some FARDC soldiers caused havoc in Baraka town after refusing to board a boat heading to the front line to fight M23 in South Kivu.[10] The FARDC reportedly increased its presence in Kalemie on July 13 as part of an operation to hunt down “deserters” and “M23 infiltrators.”[11] The FARDC announced on July 14 that it arrested and transported several deserters and suspected infiltrators to the central prison in Kalemie.[12]

The Burundian army (FDNB) reportedly continues to send troop reinforcements to South Kivu. CTP reported in mid-April 2026 that the FDNB sent an unspecified number of troops to Baraka town via the Rumonge port on Lake Tanganyika in southwestern Burundi.[13] The Burundian media outlet SOS Médias Burundi reported claims from military sources on July 15 that the FDNB is using the Karonda fishing port to transport soldiers into South Kivu.[14] Karonda town is in southwestern Burundi on the Lake Tanganyika coast, around 10 miles south of Rumonge city. The FDNB reportedly recently reinforced its presence on Lake Tanganyika and has four boats deployed near Rumonge, according to SOS Médias Burundi.[15]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 reportedly withdrew from several villages north of the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 reportedly withdrew from Rusamambu and nearby Bukumbirwa, Buleusa, and Kateku villages in the remote Ikobo group north of the RP1030 on July 11.[16]

Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly clashed with M23 and withdrew from several positions in Masisi district in North Kivu shortly after capturing them. The FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly gained control of Malemo village and Nkingwe, a nearby position, after claiming that M23 launched attacks against its positions in the area on July 12.[17] Malemo is about 16 miles east of Pinga on the RP1030. Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s spokesman, claimed that DRC coalition forces attacked its position in Miandja village, which is roughly 11 miles north of Masisi town on a local road, on July 12.[18] Kanyuka claimed that DRC coalition forces carried out three more attacks in remote areas in Masisi district on July 14.[19] FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly withdrew from Malemo and Nkingwe on July 15.[20]

Wazalendo fighters reportedly captured several positions near the border between North and South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked and dislodged M23 fighters in Katoyi village on July 12.[21] Katoyi is in a remote area about 22 miles southwest of Rubaya on local roads. The pro-Congolese government investigative outlet Tazama RDC reported on July 14 that Wazalendo fighters did not recapture Katoyi, however.[22] Wazalendo fighters also reportedly captured Kasake village and Lumbishi villages on July 11 after three days of fighting.[23] Kasake is about five miles southwest of Ngungu in Masisi district, and Lumbishi is in Kalehe district between the Ziralo group and Numbi, a mineral trading center, in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that clashes also took place between M23 and Wazalendos in several villages west of Rubaya, including Luke and Kasenyi, between July 13 and 15.[24]

M23 conducted a drone attack on a pro-Congolese government position in Masisi district. M23 reportedly struck a Wazalendo position near Nyabiondo town with a drone on July 14, according to Radio Okapi.[25]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The United Nations sanctioned several individuals and entities connected to conflict in the eastern DRC. The UN Security Council said on July 16 that it imposed sanctions on six individuals and two entities connected to the ongoing violence in the eastern DRC on July 14.[26] The UN sanctioned Twirwaneho and Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), M23’s political branch, as entities.[27] The UN sanctioned AFC head Corneille Nangaa, M23 intelligence chief John Nzenze, and Charles Sematama, Twirwaneho’s military leader.[28] The UN sanctioned Sébastien Uwimbabazi, leader of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), and another FLDR commander, Gustave Kubwayo.[29] The UN also sanctioned a logistics commander for the Allied Democratic Forces.[30] The sanctions are restrictive measures, including a travel ban, an asset freeze, and an arms embargo, that UN members states are required to implement.

FARDC officers traveled to Goma for ceasefire monitoring efforts under the Doha process. Vivian Van de Perre, the deputy head of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), accompanied two FARDC majors and a lieutenant colonel to Goma on July 13 to participate in the first Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+) meeting with M23 officers.[31] This marks the first time members of the FARDC have traveled to Goma since M23 captured the city in January 2025. The Congolese defense minister had appointed the three FARDC officers to represent the DRC under the mechanism when he met with James Swan, the head of MONUSCO, to discuss the mission on July 2.[32] The DRC and M23 signed a memorandum of understanding to add M23 officers to the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism (COVM) under the EJVM+ and operationalize the COVM during talks in Switzerland in mid-April.[33] Both parties had signed an agreement that established the terms of reference, mandate, composition, and operating procedures for the COVM in Qatar in early February.[34] The DRC and M23 established the EJVM+, which builds on a previous mechanism established by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, during negotiations in October 2025.[35] The body consists of an equal number of representatives from the Congolese government and M23, along with members from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States.[36] M23 and the DRC agreed to grant the EVJM+ access to their territory so that the body could produce a weekly report on the security situation on the ground.[37]

The DRC, Rwanda, and observer nations convened for the fifth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) meeting under the Washington Accords. Representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, along with Qatar, Togo as the African Union (AU) mediator, and the United States, met in Geneva, Switzerland on July 15 and 16.[38] The fourth JSCM meeting took place on November 19 and 20, 2025.[39] The readout said that the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to implement the Washington Accords, including by hastening efforts for the DRC to neutralize the FDLR and for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the eastern DRC.[40] The DRC and Rwanda also agreed to “explore possible verification mechanisms” to help assist with the implementation of the accords.[41] Representatives from MONUSCO briefed the parties on how the mission’s work with FDLR repatriation has contributed to the implementation of the accords.[42] The parties also committed to sharing information on developments on the ground in eastern DRC.[43]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

A US aviation company announced plans to become the latest US-backed company to analyze geological data in the DRC. The US media outlet Semafor reported on July 13 that Dynamic Aviation, an aviation company that offers services in reconnaissance and airborne data collection, is preparing a proposal to collect geological data that it would share with the DRC’s geological service.[44] Dynamic Aviation’s proposal comes after US investment firm Atlas Park and Spanish geophysics company Xcalibur announced similar agreements with the Congolese government earlier this year.[45]

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC is reportedly disrupting efforts to advance the US-DRC mining partnership. Reuters reported on July 15 that restrictions related to the ongoing outbreak are interrupting mining negotiations and logistical operations related to the US-DRC strategic partnership agreement.[46] The outlet reported that stakeholders cancelled a meeting scheduled for July in the United States to review projects in the DRC because of US travel restrictions related to the outbreak.[47] The United States and the DRC signed the strategic partnership agreement in December 2025, in tandem with the Washington Accords, to strengthen collaboration in the mining sector.[48]