Congo War Security Review, February 9, 2026

Data Cutoff: February 9, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Read CTP’s assessment on the security situation in South Kivu in Uvira Returned, but South Kivu Still at Risk: Congo War Security Review Special Edition.

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

Key Takeaway: Angolan President João Lourenço received formal approval to start preparing for a Congolese national dialogue. Pro-Congolese government forces clashed with M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands and midlands. South Africa announced that it will withdraw its troops from the UN contingent in the DRC. The Congolese army and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters reportedly recaptured a village from M23 in northern Mwenga district in South Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

Pro-Congolese government forces attacked M23 fighters in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters and militants from the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) reportedly attacked and clashed with M23 in Kibirizi village in the Bwisha chiefdom in Rutshuru on February 8.[i] Kibirizi is on the edge of the Virunga National Park, about 10 miles south of the Rwindi airport near the RN2. M23 conducted a counterattack on FDLR-Wazalendo fighters and reportedly bombed Kahumiro village, an FDLR stronghold about four miles south of Kibirizi on a local road, using heavy weaponry on February 8.[ii] Suspected FDLR militants and Wazalendo fighters from Virunga regularly conduct incursions on M23-controlled areas in this part of Bwito. Suspected FDLR militants had reportedly attacked M23 in an incursion on Kibirizi in mid-January.[iii]

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.  

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government forces clashed with M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands and midlands. The Congolese army (FARDC) and allied forces reportedly clashed with M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters in several villages around Minembwe town in the Fizi highlands, including in Kalingi, Kakenge, and Rugezi, on February 8 and 9.[iv] The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that the FARDC bombed several villages in the Minembwe area, including Rwitsankuku and Rugezi, using attack drones on February 8 and 9.[v] The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported on February 8 that fighting also took place northeast of Minembwe in the midlands southwest of Uvira town in at least four villages in Bijombo group in the Bavira chiefdom in Uvira district.[vi] The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi that fighting also occurred in Point Zéro and Tuwetuwe villages—the former about 16 miles east of Minembwe—on February 5, after M23-aligned fighters attacked FARDC positions, causing a significant displacement of people.[vii] The FARDC and allied forces had recaptured Point Zéro from Twirwaneho in a late January offensive.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Nothing significant to report.  

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

The FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly recaptured a village from M23 in northern Mwenga district in South Kivu. FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly clashed with M23 and recaptured Chafunda village in the Mukangala group in Luindi chiefdom in northern Mwenga on February 7.[viii] CTP is unable to verify the precise location of Chafunda. The Luindi chiefdom is on the northern end of the Itombwe Mountains and borders the RN5 to the east in northern Mwenga. Congolese media sources reported that FARDC-Wazalendo units intend to use their position in Chafunda to retake control of Kasika village, the capital of Luindi chiefdom, which M23 had captured in an offensive in late November 2025.[ix]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters south of Bukavu near the RN2 in South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in at least four villages in the Kamisimbi group in Walungu district on February 6.[x] The Kamisimbi group is about six miles south of Bukavu center near the RN2.

Major Political Developments  

Angolan President João Lourenço received formal approval to start preparing for a Congolese national dialogue. Angolan President João Lourenço hosted DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, and former Nigerian head of state Olusegun Obasanjo in Luanda, the Angolan capital, to discuss regional peace efforts on February 9.[xi] Gnassingbé is the head mediator for the African Union peace process, and Obasanjo is a key member of the panel of the facilitators tasked with addressing the various aspects of conflict in the DRC. The four leaders adopted a joint communiqué that gave Angola a mandate to initiate consultations with all relevant parties in preparation of a national dialogue and called upon the parties to declare and observe a ceasefire at a date and time to be agreed upon.[xii]

South Africa announced that it will withdraw its troops from the UN contingent in the DRC. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa will withdraw its estimated 700 troops deployed under the UN mandate in the DRC by the end of 2026 in a statement issued on February 8.[xiii] Ramaphosa said that the need to “realign” the resources of South Africa’s armed forces influenced the decision to withdraw fully from the DRC.[xiv]