Congo War Security Review, April 1, 2026

Data Cutoff: April 1, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

To receive the Africa File and Congo War Security Review via email, please subscribe here.  

Follow CTP on X, LinkedIn, and BlueSky for daily updates.  

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

Key Takeaway: M23 redeployed forces to Lubero district in North Kivu. A massive explosion at a Burundian army weapons depot rocked Bujumbura, Burundi’s biggest city and economic capital near Burundi's border with the DRC. The Congolese army and allied forces clashed with and conducted air attacks on M23-aligned militia fighters in the highlands of South Kivu. A US-backed firm secured regulatory approval to operationalize newly acquired mining assets in the southern DRC.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas    

Nothing significant to report.  

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

M23 redeployed forces to Lubero district in North Kivu. M23 had reportedly withdrawn its forces, military equipment, and parallel administration officials from at least a dozen positions near the front line in northern Lubero and along Lake Edward between March 23 and 24 and again on March 28.[1] M23 officials have said on several occasions since March 27 that the movements were strictly routine troop rotations.[2] M23 officials said in late March that the group’s withdrawal was part of a peace effort for both sides to step back 15 miles as a confidence-building measure, however, and warned that M23 reserved the right to “neutralize any threat at its source.”[3] M23 reportedly suspended its withdrawal and redeployed elements to at least four villages in Lubero—notably Katondi and Kitsombiro, which are about 10 and 15 miles south of Lubero town, respectively, on the RN2—after pro-Congolese government forces tried to retake several localities and clashed with M23, including in several villages south of where the front line was originally, on March 30.[4] Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly attacked M23 in at least two positions, including Mutondi, which is about nine miles south of Kipese on a local road, during fighting that occured on March 31.[5] The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported on March 31 that M23 occupied Musiya, Lubango, Katondi, and Kitsombiro villages, while pro-Congolese government forces occupied Lunyasenge, Taliya, and the northern side of Kiriki.[6]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

A massive explosion at a Burundian army (FDNB) weapons depot rocked Bujumbura, Burundi’s biggest city and economic capital near Burundi's border with the DRC. An FDNB weapons depot at a military site known as Base Camp in the Musaga zone in the southern part of Bujumbura blew up, affecting several districts in the city—some more than three miles away—for several hours on March 31.[7] The explosion sowed panic among the local population.[8] Gunfire was reported amid the chaos.[9] The explosions also reportedly affected a national radio station and Bujumbura’s central prison.[10] Base Camp is a key logistics base for the FDNB, with a gas station and storage sites for weapons and other military equipment, that plays a role in supplying the FDNB in the eastern DRC.[11] The Burundian media outlet SOS Médias Burundi said on social media on March 31 that at least three military installations are located in the same area.[12] FDNB spokesperson Gaspard Baratuza claimed on March 31 that a fire caused by a “serious electrical accident” in the ammunition storage room detonated explosive material.[13] Baratuza told BBC Rwanda on March 31 that the depot at Base Camp had “had a problem.”[14] SOS Médias Burundi reported on April 1 that members of the ruling party’s youth league blocked reporters from investigating the incident and spent the night clearing the scene.[15] Gaspard said on April 1 that the incident killed 13 people and wounded over 50.[16] SOS Médias Burundi cited non-official sources on April 1 who said that as many as 80 people may have died.[17] A senior FDNB official in Bujumbura told Agence France-Presse on April 1 that “dozens and dozens of people have been killed, [and] there are hundreds or even thousands of injured.”[18] Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye expressed condolences to the families who lost relatives and assured Burundians that the situation was under control in several statements on March 31 and April 1.[19]

The Congolese army (FARDC) and allied forces clashed with and conducted air attacks on M23-aligned militia fighters in the highlands of South Kivu. The FARDC and allied forces reportedly attacked M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters in several villages around Minembwe town, including Kalingi, Kakenge, and Bidegu, using attack drones and heavy artillery between March 30 and 31.[20] M23-aligned sources claimed that the attacks killed at least 50 cows belonging to Banyamulenge families amid the fighting.[21] The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported on April 1 that pro-Congolese government forces also attacked Minembwe’s airfield.[22] M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka claimed in a statement on social media that the FARDC and allied forces also attacked Twirwaneho positions in Rugezi, which is roughly 20 miles south of Minembwe town in the Fizi highlands, on March 31.[23]

The FARDC and allied forces clashed with M23 in Kalehe district in South Kivu. The FARDC and allied forces reportedly attacked M23 in Lubimbishi village in Kalehe on March 31.[24] CTP is unable to verify the precise location of Lubimbishi. Kivu Morning Post reported on March 31 that clashes took place in the Ziralo group, which is in northern Kalehe near the border with North Kivu.[25] The last reported clash between the FARDC and M23 in Kalehe was in late February.[26]

Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly repelled M23 or M23-aligned militia fighter attacks west of Uvira town in South Kivu. The DRC-aligned media outlet Tazama RDC reported on April 1 that pro-Congolese government forces repelled M23 attacks in several villages west of Uvira, including Mitamba—about 15 miles west of Uvira town.[27] The last reported clash in this area was in mid-March.[28]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters west of Masisi town in North Kivu. M23 reportedly conducted an attack and clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Shoa village, about eight miles west of Masisi town via local road, on April 1.[29]

M23 reportedly clashed with Wazalendo fighters in southern Masisi district. Kivu Morning Post reported on social media that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Kashovu village on April 1.[30] Kashovu is roughly 26 miles southwest of the mining town of Rubaya in Masisi.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments  

Nothing significant to report.

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

A US-backed firm secured regulatory approval to operationalize newly acquired mining assets in the southern DRC. US-based firm Virtus Minerals announced on April 1 that it secured approval to restart copper and cobalt production at sites previously owned by Dubai-based Chemaf in the former Katanga region in the southern DRC.[31] DRC state mining company Gécamines had approved the sale of the Chemaf assets to a consortium led by Virtus Minerals in a landmark deal under the US-DRC strategic partnership agreement in mid-March.[32]