Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: March 9, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: The Congolese army (FARDC) conducted drone strikes on M23 positions west of Sake town in Masisi district in North Kivu. M23 said that it released more than 5,000 FARDC troops for repatriation. The Congolese government introduced measures to ratify the Washington Peace Accords. The FARDC and allied forces clashed with M23-aligned militia fighters around Minembwe town in South Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters north of Goma in the Virunga National Park. Clashes between the two sides reportedly took place near Rugari in Rutshuru district, about 20 miles north of Goma on the RN2, before spreading to an area a few miles north of the city that overlooks Mutaho and Rusayo localities in northern Nyiragongo district, between March 7 and 8.[1] The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that the fighting broke out when Wazalendo fighters ambushed M23 reinforcements who were transiting toward Masisi district.[2] The M23-appointed Nyiragongo administrator denied that significant fighting took place.[3]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

Nothing significant to report.  

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

The Congolese army (FARDC) and allied forces clashed with M23-aligned militia fighters around Minembwe town in South Kivu. The FARDC and allied forces reportedly clashed with M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters in Minembwe and surrounding villages, including Kalingi, Kakenge, and Ilundu, in Fizi district between March 7 and 9.[4] The FARDC reportedly bombed several Twirwaneho positions around Minembwe using attack drones between March 7 and 9.[5] M23-aligned journalist Héritier Munyampfura reported that fighting between pro-Congolese government forces and Twirwaneho also continued in several villages in the Mwenga highlands, including Bilalombili, and Mikenge—the latter about 15 miles north of Minembwe on the RP527—on March 8 and 9.[6] M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka denounced the fighting and accused pro-Congolese government forces of using one-way attack drones to target civilians in several statements on social media between March 7 and 9.[7]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

The FARDC conducted drone strikes on M23 positions west of Sake town in Masisi district in North Kivu. An FARDC drone reportedly struck two M23 positions—a farmhouse where M23 combatants were gathered, and a position near a local telecommunications antenna—near Mushaki village, about eight miles west of Sake on the RP529, on March 7.[8] Pro-Congolese government media sources reported that M23 used the positions for logistics.[9] Unconfirmed reports suggest the strike caused material damage and killed and wounded an unspecified number of rebel fighters.[10] Kanyuka denounced the strike in a statement on social media on March 7.[11]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments  

M23 said that it released more than 5,000 FARDC troops for repatriation. Kanyuka said in a social media post on March 8 that M23 handed over more than 5,000 captured FARDC troops to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for repatriation to Kinsahsa, the Congolese capital, on March 2.[12] The head of the ICRC in the DRC said that the organization “stands ready to facilitate such an operation with the agreement of all parties” in a social media post on March 9.[13] The ICRC and the UN force in the DRC had previously facilitated the transfer of 1,300 captured FARDC troops from M23-controlled Goma to Kinshasa in late April and May 2025.[14]

The Congolese government introduced measures to ratify the Washington Peace Accords. DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa introduced two bills to the Congolese parliament that would ratify the June 2025 peace agreement and the strategic partnership agreement with the United States from late 2025 on March 7.[15] The Parliament is scheduled to take up the matter on March 16.[16]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.