Congo War Security Review, May 8, 2026

Data Cutoff: May 8, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 may move permanently to Switzerland. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Kalehe district highlands in northern South Kivu. M23 claimed that it finished training over 400 new parallel administration officials.

Kinetic Activity in M23-Controlled Areas

Nothing significant to report.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia  

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly attacked M23 in Kigurwe village in Uvira district in the Ruzizi Plain on May 6.[1] Kigurwe is near the border with Burundi, about five miles east of Sange town on the RN5. M23 reportedly repelled the attack and killed several Wazalendo fighters, including a senior commander.[2]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in the Kalehe district highlands in northern South Kivu. M23 reportedly attacked Wazalendo fighters in several villages in the Ziralo group, roughly 20 miles west of Numbi, a mineral trading hub, in northern Kalehe on May 1 and 2.[3] M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused pro-Congolese government forces of attacking several villages in the area using drones and heavy artillery on May 2.[4] M23 reportedly captured Tushunguti, a village in the Ziralo area, during fighting that occurred on May 3.[5] Clashes reportedly continued in Ziralo on May 4 and 5, when the Congolese army (FARDC) and Wazalendo fighters reportedly retook control of one area and conducted drone strikes on M23 positions, including in Lumbishi.[6]  Lumbishi is situated between the Ziralo group and Numbi, about four miles south of Kashovu village in Masisi district in North Kivu. Pro-Congolese government media sources claimed on social media that government forces targeted a ground-to-air anti-aircraft system that was positioned on a hill near Lumbishi in drone strikes.[7] Wazalendo fighters then reportedly conducted counterattacks to try to retake Tushunguti on May 5 and 6.[8]

Pro-Congolese government forces allegedly conducted drone attacks in the South Kivu highlands. Kanyuka claimed that government forces conducted drone attacks on M23-aligned militia positions in Rugezi village in Fizi district on May 1 and 2.[9] Rugezi is about 20 miles south of Minembwe on a rural road. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that pro-Congolese government forces conducted drone attacks on two villages near Minembwe town on May 4.[10] Kivu Morning Post reported separately on social media that government forces conducted drone attacks near one village close to Minembwe on May 5.[11]

Wazalendo fighters reportedly clashed with M23 north of Bukavu in South Kivu. Pro-Congolese government journalist Byobe Malenga reported on social media on May 2 that Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in a village in the Mudaka group in Kabare district.[12] The Mudaka group is about 12 miles north of Bukavu center in Kabare on the RN2.

M23 and Wazalendos reportedly clashed further north near the Kavumu airport in Kabare. Congolese media sources reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in three villages in the Bugorhe group, including Mulangala—five miles northwest of Kavumu—on May 2.[13]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in southern Masisi district in North Kivu. Congolese media reported that M23 attacked Wazalendo positions in Remeka and Katuunda villages in the Ufamandu group in southern Masisi on May 5.[14] Remeka and Katuunda are about 13 and 27 miles southwest of Rubaya town on local roads, respectively. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled the attack.[15]

M23 accused the Congolese government of conducting drone attacks in Masisi district. Kanyuka accused the Congolese government of conducting a drone attack on Kalenga village in Masisi on May 7.[16] CTP is unable to verify the location of Kalenga. Kanyuka then accused the Congolese government of conducting a drone attack in Mushaki village, about eight miles west of Sake on the RP529, on May 8.[17] An FARDC drone had previously targeted M23 positions in Mushaki in a strike in early March 2026.[18]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments  

Peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 may move permanently to Switzerland. The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on May 4 that Qatar has requested that future rounds of talks between the two sides take place in Switzerland due to the Iran war in the Middle East.[19] The outlet reported that the next round of talks could occur sometime in May or June.[20] Africa Intelligence also reported that the Congolese government rejected Qatari proposals to host the talks in several African countries, including Togo.[21]

M23 claimed that it finished training over 400 new parallel administration officials. The group announced on May 7 that it finished ideological training for what the group claimed was 416 political and administrative cadres at a training center in Rutshuru district in North Kivu.[22] Bertrand Bisimwa, the deputy head of M23’s political umbrella, Alliance Fleuve Congo, presided over the closing ceremony.[23] This is the third round of training M23 has finished for new parallel administration officials since late April. M23 had claimed on April 30 that it trained over 500 new cadres.[24] The group had claimed on April 23 that it trained over 400 new cadres.[25]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.