Congo War Security Review, October 17, 2025

Data Cutoff: October 17, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST 

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Key Takeaway: Former DRC President Joseph Kabila launched a new political coalition from Kenya. M23 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters and suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) militants in counterinsurgency operations in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near the Kavumu airport on the RN2 in Kabare district in South Kivu. M23 conducted cordon and search operations north of Goma in Nyiragongo district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas

M23 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters and suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) militants in counterinsurgency operations in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. M23 reportedly attacked and clashed with Wazalendo and FDLR fighters using light and heavy weaponry in at least eight villages in the Bukombo group and one village in the neighboring Tongo group in Bwito chiefdom in western Rutshuru from October 15 to October 17.[i] The Bukombo and Tongo groups are roughly 10 and 20 miles east of Kitchanga on the RP1030, respectively. Congolese media sources reported on social media that about 50 Wazalendo fighters surrender to M23 in Bwito on October 16.[ii] The recent fighting in Bwito has reportedly displaced hundreds of locals and led to the death of at least 39 civilians since M23 launched the counterinsurgency operations around October 5.[iii]

M23 conducted cordon and search operations north of Goma in Nyiragongo district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 carried out two cordon operations in the Munigi group, about five miles north of Goma center on the RN2, in Nyiragongo on October 14 and 17.[iv] The outlet reported that M23 screened locals as part of the operations and arrested several people for suspected links to Congolese government networks and local crime outfits.[v] M23 last conducted a cordon operation near Goma on September 25.[vi]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia 

Nothing significant to report. 

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie  

Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near the Kavumu airport on the RN2 in Kabare district in South Kivu. A journalist for the Congolese media outlet Radio Maendelelo reported on social media that Wazalendos attacked M23 in Tshibati village from its positions in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park on October 16.[vii] Tshibati is about five miles west of the Kavumu airport on the RN2. M23 had clashed with Wazalendo fighters in a village near Tshibati on the edge of Kahuzi-Biega on October 12.[viii]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in north-central Masisi district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several villages in the Bashali Mokoto group in the Bashali chiefdom in north-central Masisi from October 14 to 16.[ix] The Bashali Mokoto group is roughly 15 miles southeast of Pinga on local roads. At least 1,000 families have fled from the fighting in Bashali Mokoto since October 13.[x] Wazalendo fighters had previously repelled M23 attacks in two villages in Bashali Mokoto on October 13.[xi]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu 

Nothing significant to report. 

Major Political Developments 

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila launched a new political coalition from Kenya. Kabila launched the platform, dubbed the “Save the Democratic Republic of Congo” movement, with close allies and several members of the exiled political opposition in Nairobi, Kenya on October 15.[xii] Several major figures in the opposition—namely Delly Sesanga, Denis Mukwege, Jean-Marc Kabund, Martin Fayulu, and Moïse Katumbi—were reportedly not present in Kenya for the launch, however.[xiii] A Kabila associate told the French magazine Jeune Afrique on October 13 that Kabila is aiming to “reconstitute an opposition front” against DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.[xiv]