Congo War Security Review, August 11, 2025

Data Cutoff: August 11, 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: The DRC and Rwanda held the first Joint Security Mechanism meeting as part of the US-brokered peace agreement. M23 continued its advance in Walungu district in South Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 killed at least eight civilians in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

Congolese media reported that M23 killed at least eight civilians in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. M23 reportedly killed at least eight civilians in the vicinity of Nyamilima village in the Binza group in Bwisha chiefdom in Rutshuru on August 8.[i] Nyamilima is about 25 miles north of Rutshuru town. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that the civilian fatalities were the result of M23’s ongoing operations against pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters and suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) militants in Binza.[ii]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack in eastern Walikale district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendos repelled an M23 attack in Buhimba village in the Waloa Yungu group in Walikale on August 8.[iii] Buhimba is about 12 miles west of Nyabiondo in Masisi district on the RP529. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendos pushed M23 back west toward Nyabiondo to the Luberike group.[iv] Wazalendo fighters had attacked M23 in Luberike earlier on August 8, marking the first incident of fighting on the frontlines in Walikale since August 4.[v]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

M23 continued its advance in Walungu district in South Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Mulamba group, about 15 miles south of the Walungu district capital, using heavy and light weaponry from August 9 to August 11.[vi] The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported that M23 sent “ten trucks” of reinforcements to the front lines in Walungu from Bukavu on August 10.[vii] M23 reportedly aims to capture Nzibira locality—a Congolese army logistics hub and gateway town to the adjacent Shabunda district in South Kivu roughly five miles west of the front line in Mulamba.[viii] Congolese government officials claimed that M23 has used attack drones and armored vehicles against Wazalendo fighters in Walungu district since late last week.[ix] M23 launched an offensive in Walungu and captured several villages to the west and southwest of Walungu town on August 7.[x]

Major Political Developments

The DRC and Rwanda held the first Joint Security Mechanism meeting as part of the US-brokered peace agreement. Representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, along with observers from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States, participated in the meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on August 7 and August 8.[xi] The joint statement said that the DRC and Rwanda agreed to the terms of reference for future meetings and began initial discussions on the implementation of the peace agreement from late June.[xii]