Congo War Security Review, February 11, 2026

Data Cutoff: February 11, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23 claimed that it commissioned over 7,500 new fighters. The UN force in the DRC is seeking security guarantees to begin reconnaissance flights over Uvira as part of its ceasefire verification mandate. The Congolese army conducted multiple airstrikes on M23 positions along the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in Rutshuru district in North Kivu for several days.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo forces in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 attacked and clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several areas near Kilama village, about seven miles north of Bambo village in the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru, for three days between February 8 and 11.[i] The outlet reported that M23 used attack drones, heavy artillery, and bombs in the attacks, which Wazalendo fighters repelled.[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

The Congolese army (FARDC) conducted multiple airstrikes on M23 positions along the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that the FARDC conducted airstrikes on M23 positions in Minjenje village in the Kisimba group in Walikale on February 8 and 9.[iii] The outlet cited local sources who claimed that the strikes significantly injured several rebel fighters.[iv] Minjenje is an important logistic point for M23 in the Kisimba group in Walikale, two miles southeast of Mpeti—M23’s forward position on the RP1030 about 12 miles east of Pinga. Actualite.cd reported separately that the FARDC then targeted several M23 positions in airstrikes around Mpeti on February 11.[v]  The FARDC had previously bombed M23 positions in air attacks in Mpeti and Minjenje on January 24 and 29.[vi]

Wazalendo forces attacked M23 in Masisi district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near Kalengera village, which is about nine miles southwest of Mweso on the RP1030, on February 11.[vii] M23 has clashed with Wazalendos frequently around Mweso in Masisi and Rutshuru districts in recent weeks. Wazalendo fighters repelled several M23 attacks near Mweso in early February.[viii] M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters near Kashuga village on the RP1030 in Masisi in late January.[ix] M23 repelled numerous Wazalendo attacks on the RP1030, including in Pilote and Bukama villages—about four miles and one mile north of Mweso on the RP1030, respectively—in mid-January.[x]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments  

M23 claimed that it commissioned over 7,500 new fighters. M23 held a commissioning ceremony for what the group claimed was 7,532 “commandos” who completed training at M23’s main training facility in Tchanzu in Rutshuru and were integrated into its ranks on February 8.[xi] CTP is unable to verify the claim of this figure. M23 has commissioned previously at least three large-scale recruitment cycles in July, September, and October 2025. [xii]

The UN force in the DRC is seeking security guarantees to begin reconnaissance flights over Uvira as part of its ceasefire verification mandate. The Congolese government and M23 had agreed in a terms of reference agreement in early February that a team from the UN would soon deploy to Uvira to monitor and help implement the ceasefire verification mechanism in the eastern DRC.[xiii] Jean-Pierre Lacroix, a senior UN official, met with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss the ceasefire mechanism on February 10 and said that the UN is planning a multi-stage deployment to South Kivu.[xiv] Lacroix said that the UN would begin reconnaissance flights above Uvira if it first receives “security guarantees” given the presence of anti-air defense systems and drones.[xv] Lacroix said that the flights must operate out of M23-controlled Goma.[xvi] Lacroix said that a limited ground deployment could follow reconnaissance flights.[xvii]