Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: March 11, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: The Congolese army (FARDC) conducted drone strikes that targeted senior M23 officials in a residential neighborhood in Goma. The FARDC reportedly shot down several one-way attack drones near Minembwe town in South Kivu. The FARDC and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters recaptured a village from M23 west of Masisi town in North Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces on the RP529 in Walikale district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

The Congolese army (FARDC) conducted drone strikes that targeted senior M23 officials in a residential neighborhood in Goma. The FARDC reportedly conducted two drone strikes on a residence in the Himbi neighborhood in Goma on March 11.[1] Locals reported that the attacks also damaged other nearby homes.[2] The strikes caused extensive damage to the house and injured several and killed two civilians and a French national working for the UN.[3] A senior M23 official told Reuters on March 11 that UN employees had rented the house from a well-known Belgian investor in Goma.[4] The Himbi neighborhood is among the upscale areas of the city, situated in the central part near the edge of Lake Kivu, where many humanitarian workers and expatriates reside. High-profile political and business figures have homes in Himbi and the nearby Katindo neighborhood, including Corneille Nangaa, M23’s political head, and the operational commander of the group’s military wing, Sultani Makenga. The Belgian foreign minister condemned the drone strikes in a statement on social media on March 11.[5] French President Emmanuel Macron called for “respect for humanitarian law” in a statement on social media on March 11.[6] Hadja Lahbib, a senior European Union humanitarian official, expressed concern about the attack in a statement on social media March 11.[7] Bruno Lemarquis, the acting head of the UN force in the DRC, condemned the strikes in a press release on March 11.[8] Lemarquis said that attacks on UN personnel could amount to war crimes.[9]

The FARDC reportedly targeted senior M23 figures. An unconfirmed report from M23-aligned journalist Rodriguez Katsuva said that the FARDC had received intelligence on March 10 that there were gaps in anti-drone jamming coverage over Goma.[10] The house in Himbi is about 150 feet from a residence owned by Olive Lembe, the wife of former DRC President Joseph Kabila.[11] Kabila is not a member of M23 but is informally aligned with the rebel group. The French magazine Jeune Afrique cited an unspecified source on March 11 who said that a “significant” security detail had been deployed to Lembe’s residence on March 10.[12] Kabila was reportedly in Goma but was not near the site at the time of the strikes.[13] Kabila’s associates told Jeune Afrique that he typically stays elsewhere when visiting the city and was unharmed.[14] Agence France-Presse cited unspecified security sources on March 11 who assessed that the strike had targeted officials or relatives close to M23 leaders but hit the house in Himbi by mistake.[15] A munition from a third drone strike fell into Lake Kivu.[16] An M23 official told Reuters that this third strike targeted Nangaa’s residence but also missed its target.[17] M23 officials denounced the drone strikes in several statements and said that the Congolese government is trying to “decapitate” the group and the political opposition.[18]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

Nothing significant to report.  

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

The FARDC reportedly shot down several one-way attack (OWA) drones near Minembwe town in South Kivu. The FARDC reportedly shot down three enemy OWA drones above Mikenge village, about 15 miles north of Minembwe on the RP527 in Mwenga district, on March 10.[19] The FARDC claimed that the drones belonged to the Rwandan army (RDF) and M23-aligned militia fighters in a statement on social media on March 10.[20] Pro-Congolese government media sources claimed that the RDF also deployed a helicopter to Minembwe around March 10.[21]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

The FARDC and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters recaptured a village from M23 west of Masisi town in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly clashed with M23 and retook control of Kazinga village, which is about 13 miles west of Masisi town, around March 9.[22] Kazinga has changed hands between the two sides several times since pro-Congolese government forces launched an offensive in Masisi in late February. M23 had recaptured the village as part of a counteroffensive on March 3.[23] M23 had then withdrew from two villages near Kazinga a few days later on March 5, however.[24]

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces on the RP529 in Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked FARDC and Wazalendo fighters in Mikumbi village, about four and 18 miles west of Kibati and Nyabiondo on the RP529, respectively, in Walikale on March 11.[25]

FARDC and Wazalendo fighters captured a village from M23 north of the RP1030 in Walikale district. The FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 positions and dislodged the group from a remote village in the Kisimba group near the RP1030 on March 9.[26] The Kisimba group is north of the RP1030, about 10 miles east of Pinga on the RP1030.

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.