Congo War Security Review, May 30, 2025

Data Cutoff: May 30, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23 continued its advance against pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. Former DRC President Joseph Kabila held several meetings with local officials in M23-occupied Goma. A consortium of Congolese nongovernment organizations claimed that the DRC government has arrested nearly 30 military officials with suspected links to Kabila in recent months. Heads of state from twelve African countries met for discussions under the African Union-led Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC. M23 took steps to establish a parallel judicial system in Goma.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 continued its advance against pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 took control of the remaining areas in the Ikobo group and captured several villages in the nearby Kisimba group in the Kisimba-Ikobo Primate Reserve from Wazalendo fighters on May 28 and May 29.[i] M23 has captured at least nine villages in the Kisimba group this week.[ii] Local leaders in Kisimba group told the Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd that M23 rebels likely aim to encircle and capture Pinga, a military hub in the adjacent Masisi district roughly 25 miles from the Ikobo group.[iii]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila held several meetings with local officials in M23-occupied Goma. Kabila appeared before the press at his residence near Goma where he met with religious officials and traditional authorities from North Kivu behind closed doors to “learn about security challenges” in the eastern DRC on May 29 and May 30, respectively.[iv] M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka attended the meeting on May 29 alongside Kabila.[v] Kabila has held numerous meetings in Goma with close associates, senior M23 officials, and local leaders since May 26.[vi] The French magazine Jeune Afrique reported that Kabila has been formulating his political program “in the greatest of secrecy” since he arrived in the provincial capital.[vii] Jeune Afrique quoted sources close to Kabila on May 29 who reiterated that Kabila maintains “no intention of assuming the role of rebel leader” and that Kabila’s political party has made “no formal alliance” with Rwandan-backed M23 but “shares the same objective: to end the regime of [DRC President] Félix Tshisekedi.”[viii] A local religious leader told the press on May 29 that religious authorities in North Kivu asked Kabila to “play the role of referee so that peace can return.”[ix] Jeune Afrique reported that Kabila plans to hold meetings soon with “several Congolese opposition leaders” to try to unify the various platforms as a “spokesperson for the opposition” against Tshisekedi.[x]

A consortium of Congolese nongovernment organizations claimed that the DRC government has arrested nearly 30 military officials with suspected links to Kabila in recent months. The consortium claimed on May 27 that the DRC arrested the Congolese army (FARDC) officials, the majority of whom have ties to the eastern DRC, on suspicion of “collaborating” with Kabila and “sabotaging military operations.”[xi] The DRC government has arrested several high-ranking FARDC officials and at least one former government minister with links to Kabila since May 22.[xii] Congolese military and intelligence services reportedly kidnapped Brigadier General Pierre Banywesize and transferred him to a military detention center in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, on an unknown date last week.[xiii] Banywesize was the deputy commander of operations in Haut-Uélé province and the former head of Kabila’s presidential security detail.[xiv] The DRC government arrested General Joseph Banza, former FARDC deputy commander of operations in South Kivu, on an unknown date last week.[xv] The DRC also arrested Martin Kabwelulu, a former mining minister in Katanga province, on May 24.[xvi] Kabila has strong ties to Katanga province. French state media reported that Congolese authorities questioned Kabwelulu about mining assets allegedly linked to Kabila.[xvii]

Heads of state from twelve African countries met for discussions under the African Union (AU)-led Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC. AU officials and heads of state from the PSC signatory countries met in Entebbe, Uganda to discuss the security situation in the eastern DRC on May 28.[xviii] Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye transferred the PSC presidency to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.[xix] French state media reported on May 29 that Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame did not participate in the in-person discussions due to “scheduling issues.”[xx] The PSC countries released a joint communiqué that condemned M23 territorial advances and the rebel group’s effort to establish a parallel administration in the eastern DRC and called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2773.[xxi] The joint communiqué did not mention Rwanda’s support for M23.[xxii] The joint communiqué called for the dismantling of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda—an ethnic Hutu militia group opposed to the Rwandan government—and “all other foreign armed groups” in the eastern DRC.[xxiii] French state media reported that Ndayishimiye “pointed the finger at Rwanda” and warned about the potential for a regional war in the Great Lakes.[xxiv] Yoweri criticized Burundi and the DRC’s reliance on external military assistance and called for African-led solutions to regional issues.[xxv]

M23 took steps to establish a parallel judicial system in Goma. Congolese journalist Yassin Kombi reported on May 29 that M23-appointed mayor of Goma Julien Katembo established an arbitration court for local conflicts in Goma.[xxvi] Katembo wrote in a communiqué signed on May 29 that M23 created the court for temporary use while M23 works to “install new judicial authorities” in Goma.[xxvii]

M23 rejected allegations that the rebel group has committed human rights violations in areas that it controls. Senior M23 officials denounced accusations that M23 has committed human rights abuses in Goma and Bukavu during a press conference in Goma on May 30.[xxviii] Amnesty International reported on May 27 that M23 has committed human rights abuses and potential war crimes in Goma and Bukavu.[xxix] M23 released its own report that blamed the DRC government for violations documented in M23-occupied areas and disputed the death count during the period when M23 captured Goma and Bukavu in early 2025.[xxx] M23 President Bertrand Bisimwa declared at the press conference that “Tshisekedi will have to answer for his crimes” against the Congolese population if M23 “takes power.”[xxxi]