Congo War Security Review, August 8, 2025

Data Cutoff: August 8, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Read CTP’s forecast of DRC-M23 peace talks and the trajectory of the conflict in the eastern DRC in Challenges to Sustainable DRC-M23 Peace: Africa File Special Edition.

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

Key Takeaway: Direct peace talks between the DRC and M23 were delayed until further notice. M23 captured several villages from pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages on the RN2 north of Bukavu in South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 on the RP529 in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in several villages on the RN2 north of Bukavu in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo positions in Kasheke village near the border between Kabare and Kalehe districts in South Kivu on August 7.[i] Kasheke village is about 14 miles north of the Kavumu airport and 33 miles north of Bukavu on the RN2. Congolese media reported that M23 also clashed with Wazalendos in the vicinity of Kavumu on the RN2, including in Kamakombe and in several villages on the edge of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, on August 7.[ii]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 on the RP529 in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked an M23 position near Kashebere village—about eight miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529—in Walikale on August 8.[iii] Actualite.cd reported that the attack marked the first incident of fighting on the front lines in Walikale since August 4.[iv]

M23 clashed with Wazalendos south of the Masisi district capital in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a village in the Nyamaboko group in the Osso Banyungu sector in Masisi on August 8.[v] CTP is unable to verify the location of the village. The Nyamaboko group is roughly 16 miles south from Masisi town by local road.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

M23 captured several villages from Wazalendo fighters near the Walungu district capital in South Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendos and took control of several villages in the Mulamba group in Walungu district, including Kaniola—about six miles west of Walungu town—on August 7.[vi]

Major Political Developments

Direct peace talks between the DRC and M23 were delayed until further notice. The two sides reportedly did not dispatch delegations to Doha, the Qatari capital, for a second stage of talks aimed at reaching a final peace agreement by August 8 as outlined in a Qatari-brokered declaration of principles agreement from late July.[vii] An insider source told Reuters on August 7 that there had been a “delay” in implementing prisoner exchange, the main confidence-building measure from the declaration agreement.[viii] Senior M23 officials reiterated their position on August 7 that M23 will not send a delegation to Doha until the DRC government “respects the declaration of principles” and releases M23 prisoners and detainees.[ix] Reuters cited a Congolese official who said that the DRC will only release M23 prisoners after the two sides sign a final agreement.[x]