Congo War Security Review, November 12, 2025

Data Cutoff: November 12, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST  

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Key Takeaway: The United States delayed the head of state signing ceremony for the US-brokered peace agreement to late November. The Congolese government and M23 did not sign a Qatari-brokered framework agreement as planned on November 11. Togo reportedly may become the new mediator between the Congolese government and M23 after they sign a framework agreement. The Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) publicly rejected calls from the Congolese government to disarm and surrender.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

M23 attacked pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo fighters in at least four villages in the Bukombo group in Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru on November 12.[i] CTP is unable to locate any of the villages. The Bukombo group is roughly 10 miles east of Kitchanga town on the RP1030. M23 has clashed frequently with Wazalendo fighters in Bukombo in recent weeks. Kivu Morning Post reported on November 12 that M23 has also attacked Wazalendo fighters recently in at least two villages in the Mutanda group.[ii]

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 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several areas in Masisi district in North Kivu. M23 reportedly clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Mweso on the RP1030 in Masisi on November 12.[iii] Wazalendo fighters ambushed an M23 contingent near Mweso and killed an M23 commander.[iv] The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that M23 also clashed with Wazalendo fighters in five villages in the Nyamaboko group around Kazinga—about 15 miles southwest of Masisi—including in Ndete, on November 12.[v]

The Congolese army (FARDC) conducted drone strikes on M23 south of Masisi town. M23 accused the FARDC of conducting a drone strike on its positions in Luke village on November 10.[vi] Luke is about 13 miles south of Masisi town and 14 miles west of Rubaya on local roads. Radio Okapi reported that an FARDC strike targeting M23 damaged private property in the Nyamboko group on November 9.[vii] Unconfirmed reports circulated on social media that M23 shot down an FARDC drone over Masisi district on November 11.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters south of Bukavu near the RN5 in South Kivu. Etienne Mulindwa, a journalist for the Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo, reported on social media on November 11 that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Kamisimbi group in Walungu district, about six miles south of Bukavu center near the RN5.[viii] The last reported clash between M23 and Wazalendo fighters in Kamisimbi was in late October.[ix]

Major Political Developments  

The United States delayed the head of state signing ceremony for the US-brokered peace agreement to late November. The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on November 12 that the United States is now proposing November 21 for the signing ceremony between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.[x] The ceremony had originally been scheduled for late October and then November 13 but was never confirmed.[xi] Tshisekedi said late last week that the United States would formally host him and Kagame for the ceremony soon.[xii] The DRC and Rwanda had signed a key part of the US-backed peace agreement, the Regional Economic Integration Framework, on November 7.[xiii]

The Congolese government and M23 did not sign a Qatari-brokered framework agreement as planned on November 11. Delegations from the Congolese government and M23 were expected to sign a framework agreement on November 11.[xiv] The Congolese delegation reportedly had not yet traveled to Doha, the Qatari capital, as of November 12.[xv] Independent Congolese journalist Steve Wembi reported on November 11 that the Congolese delegation is still making “back-and-forth trips” to the DRC and the United States for deliberations.[xvi] The Belgian media outlet La Libre Afrique reported on November 10 that the framework agreement is a joint text characterized as a “new roadmap” that will facilitate future discussions.[xvii] Qatar reportedly failed to broker an agreement on points of convergence or include unresolved disagreements in the final text.[xviii] French media reported previously that the return of state authority remained a significant point of disagreement in the final round of talks.[xix] The agreement reportedly contains a five-pillar peace framework with separate negotiations for each pillar and designated procedures for implementation and monitoring.[xx]

Togo reportedly may become the new mediator between the Congolese government and M23 after they sign a roadmap deal. La Libre Afrique reported that Qatar wants to transfer the mediation process to Togo, the African Union-designated mediator for the conflict between the DRC, M23, and Rwanda.[xxi] The outlet reported that Tshisekedi met with the Togolese president and foreign minister in Lomé, the Togolese capital, to ask them to step in as mediator in early November.[xxii] Togo has been leading a separate peace effort to initiate an AU-backed internal dialogue in the DRC. Wembi had reported on November 8 that Togo could host a dialogue convened by Tshisekedi.[xxiii]

The Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) publicly rejected calls from the Congolese government to disarm and surrender. The spokesperson for the FDLR’s political and military branches told French state media on November 11 that the FDLR rejects disarmament and would refuse to surrender until the Rwandan government opens an inter-Rwandan dialogue and allows the return of refugees.[xxiv] The FDLR has refused to stand down despite pressure from the Congolese government since early October. The FARDC had called on all FDLR factions to disarm and surrender peacefully to Congolese government authorities or UN forces for repatriation to Rwanda on October 10 as part of the US-backed peace process.[xxv] The FARDC sent senior officers to government-controlled areas in Walikale district, including Walikale town and Pinga, to coordinate an awareness campaign for the FDLR’s surrender on November 5.[xxvi]

Tshisekedi officially annulled judicial acts undertaken by M23. Tshisekedi’s deputy spokesperson said on November 11 that Tshisekedi signed a series of orders that declared all judicial acts and decisions issued by M23 authorities as null and void.[xxvii] M23 announced the recruitment of more than 370 officials for its parallel judicial system and said it would soon appoint senior magistrates and judges to courts in early November.[xxviii] The group had established a justice commission to set up parallel courts and judicial institutions in mid-August and said repeatedly that it views the establishment of a legal system as a “strategic priority.”[xxix]