Congo War Security Review, December 10, 2025

Data Cutoff: December 10, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST  

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Key Takeaway: M23 captured Uvira town in South Kivu. The United States urged M23 and Rwanda to halt their offensive in South Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters north of the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 repelled a Wazalendo attack in southern Lubero district in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

Nothing significant to report.  

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

M23 repelled a pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighter attack in southern Lubero district in North Kivu. Independent Congolese journalist Fred Mastaki reported on social media that M23 repelled the attack in Bingi village in the Batangi chiefdom in southern Lubero on December 7.[i] Bingi is about 10 miles west of Alimbongo on the RN2 and 20 miles north of Kirumba town.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23 captured Uvira town in South Kivu. M23 had advanced to Sange town, about 25 miles north of Uvira on the RN5, and clashed with pro-Congolese government forces before it claimed control of the town on December 8.[ii] M23 reportedly clashed with pro-Congolese government forces again in Sange and then advanced about eight and 12 miles south to Runingu and Kiliba villages, respectively, to within eight miles of Uvira town on December 9.[iii] Independent Congolese journalist Héritier Munyampfura observed a “significant movement” of Burundian army (FDNB) troops and civilians fleeing south from Runingu on December 9.[iv] M23 reportedly captured Kiliba after heavy bombing caused pro-Congolese government elements to desert the area on December 9.[v] M23 forces advanced the remaining distance to the outskirts of Uvira and split off into at least four contingents to secure key parts of the city, including the border with Burundi, on December 9.[vi] Burundi closed its border posts with the DRC at Gatumba and Vugizo and declared each post a “military zone” on December 9.[vii] Thousands of FDNB and Congolese army (FARDC) soldiers—and even local Wazalendo generals—fled Uvira on several axes on December 9.[viii] Some Wazalendo fighters reportedly clashed with FDNB-FARDC units who they accused of abandoning their positions.[ix] M23 units entered the northern part of Uvira in the Kanvinvira neighborhood as early as December 9 and took control of the governor’s building in Kiromoni on the RN30 near the Burundian border on December 10.[x] The group conducted a clearing operation and shelled remaining Wazalendo positions but reportedly took control of the city center without intense urban combat.[xi] M23 claimed that it took control of the Kalundu port on the south side of city on December 10.[xii] The group officially claimed control of Uvira town on December 10.[xiii]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani  

Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near the RP529 in Masisi district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in Kasopo village on December 9.[xiv] Kasopo is about seven miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529.

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters north of the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Ihula village in the Kisimba group on December 8.[xv] Ihula is about six miles northeast of Kalembe village on the RP1030 in Masisi district on local roads. Wazalendo had fighters attacked M23 in Ihula on December 7.[xvi]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments  

The United States urged M23 and Rwanda to halt their offensive in South Kivu. The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), composed of the United States, the European Union, and nine European countries, called on M23 and the Rwandan army to “immediately halt offensive operations” in South Kivu in a joint statement on December 9.[xvii] The ICG said that it was concerned about the increased use of attack and suicide drones in the conflict.[xviii] The US House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority condemned Rwanda and called on Rwanda to adhere to the Washington Accords on social media on December 10.[xix]