Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: March 27, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Read CTP’s assessment on the restart of the Washington Peace Accords in Deadlock in the DRC: 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 reiterated its call for the DRC and Rwanda to immediately implement their peace commitments during a United Nations Security Council meeting. M23 reportedly withdrew unilaterally from its forward positions in Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese army and allied forces reportedly conducted air attacks on M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 south of Ruthsuru town in Rutshuru district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 south of Ruthsuru town in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 elements on patrol near Kalengera village in the Bwisha chiefdom in Rutshuru on March 26.[1] Kalengera is about six miles south of Rutshuru town on the RN2, on the eastern edge of the Virunga National Park.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

Nothing significant to report.  

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

The Congolese army (FARDC) and allied forces reportedly conducted air attacks on M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands. M23 and M23-aligned media sources claimed that the FARDC and allied forces conducted several air attacks using one-way attack drones on M23-aligned Twirwaneho positions around Minembwe town and in Mikenge—about 15 miles north of Minembwe on the RP527—between March 24 and 27.[2] One attack allegedly targeted a community radio station near Minembwe center on March 25.[3] M23 and Twirwaneho denounced the attacks in several statements between March 24 and 27.[4]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

M23 reportedly withdrew unilaterally from its forward positions in Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 reportedly withdrew its forces and equipment from Minjenje and Mpeti villages in the Kisimba group in Walikale district on March 26.[5] Minjenje is an important logistic point for M23, located two miles southeast of Mpeti, which is the group’s westernmost position on the RP1030 about 12 miles east of Pinga. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 also withdrew its forces from Kanune village—15 miles northeast of Mpeti in a remote forested area in the Ikobo group in Walikale on March 26.[6] Wazalendo fighters had previously attacked M23 in Kanune on March 22.[7] Wazalendo fighters reportedly clashed with M23 in a different area in Ikobo and recaptured Kateku village on March 26.[8] CTP is unable to verify the location of Kateku.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments  

The United States reiterated its call for the DRC and Rwanda to immediately implement their peace commitments during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting. Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s Africa adviser, chaired a UNSC meeting on the eastern DRC crisis and reaffirmed US support and engagement for the Washington and Doha processes on March 26.[9] Boulos called for the “immediate withdrawal” of Rwandan troops from the eastern DRC and for the FARDC to immediately neutralize the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) in areas under its control as part of the US-brokered peace agreement from June 2025.[10] Boulos reaffirmed that the United States will “explore all available tools” to ensure the long-term success of the peace accords, implying the use of sanctions.[11] Vivian van de Perre, the acting head of the UN force in the DRC, warned in her statement that the situation in the eastern DRC is deteriorating amid continued fighting, citing a widening gap between diplomatic efforts and conditions on the ground.[12]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.