Congo War Security Review, June 12, 2026

Data Cutoff: June 12, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: The Congolese government and M23 are expected to resume peace talks in Switzerland soon. Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly captured several villages in clashes with M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces in several areas in Masisi district in North Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several areas north of Bukavu in Kabare district in South Kivu.

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 forces reportedly captured several villages in clashes with M23-aligned militia fighters in the South Kivu highlands. CTP reported previously that M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters clashed with the Congolese army (FARDC), pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters, and the Burundian army (FDNB) in several villages around Minembwe town in the highlands between June 2 and June 5.[1] A journalist for the Congolese news outlet Radio Manedeleo reported on social media that the two sides clashed in Ilundu, a village near Minembwe town in the Fizi district highlands, on the night of June 6 to 7.[2] M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters and M23’s spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, claimed on social media that DRC coalition forces bombed Ilundu and nearby Bidegu villages on June 7.[3] Local and civil society sources said that a drone attack killed two civilians and wounded others in Ilundu on June 7.[4] Twirwaneho fighters clashed with DRC coalition forces in Mikenge village, about 15 miles north of Minembwe on the RP527, and reportedly took control of the village on June 8.[5] Both sides reportedly used attack and reconnaissance drones in the fighting around Mikenge.[6] The two sides then reportedly clashed in several villages around Minembwe, including Kakenge, Bidegu, and Kalingi, on June 8 and 9, and Kanyuka claimed that DRC coalition forces used one-way (OWA) attack drones and KT-6 combat drones in attacks around Minembwe on June 9.[7]

Clashes reportedly continued in Mikenge on June 9, before the FARDC claimed on June 10 that it had captured the village after launching a counteroffensive.[8] The FARDC claimed on June 10 that it also captured Kakenge and Kalingi after clashes with enemy forces.[9] Kanyuka claimed on social media on June 10 that DRC coalition forces used heavy artillery and OWA and KT-6 drones in the fighting around Kakenge.[10] Pro-Congolese government media outlets reported on social media on June 10 that FARDC special force units participated in efforts to recapture Mikenge and the villages around Minembwe.[11] Fighting reportedly continued around Minembwe and Mikenge on June 11 and 12, as pro-Congolese government media outlets claimed that DRC coalition forces made gains toward Minembwe center.[12] Kanyuka claimed that DRC coalition forces conducted attacks on Mikenge and Kakenge, Irundu, and Bidegu villages around Minembwe using OWA and KT-6 drones on June 11.[13] M23 and M23-aligned sources claimed that DRC coalition forces conducted two air attacks using a Russian-made Sukhoi-25 fighter jet deployed from Kalemie in Tanganyika province on Minembwe on June 12.[14] The Burundian media outlet SOS Médias Burundi cited unverified reports from Congolese security sources on June 12 who claimed that the Congolese government recently offered Burundi “benefits related to gold mining” in Minembwe and other mining areas in Fizi district in exchange for increased military support to help the DRC regain control of areas controlled by Twirwaneho.[15] The same sources claimed that Congolese government forces shared or supplied FDNB military contingents with drones for the fight against Twirwaneho in the highlands.[16]

M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in several areas north of Bukavu in Kabare district. A pro-Congolese government source reported on social media on June 8 that the two sides clashed in three villages, including Bushwira and Mbiza, in southern Kabare.[17] Bushwira and Mbiza are about 11 and six miles north of Bukavu center, respectively. The Congolese media outlet Radio Maendeleo reported that clashes also took place in two villages in the nearby Mudaka group in Kabare on June 8.[18] The Mudaka group is about 12 miles north of Bukavu center in Kabare on the RN2. Congolese media sources reported that the two sides clashed further north in several villages in the Bugorhe group on the edge of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, including Lwiro—near Katana town on the RN2—on June 8 and 9.[19] The Bugorhe group is about six miles north of the Kavumu airport. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that clashes also took place further south toward Kavumu in Kamakombe and Mbayo villages on June 9.[20]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani 

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government forces in several areas in Masisi district in North Kivu. Kanyuka claimed that DRC coalition forces attacked M23 in several villages, including Nkokwe—about 12 miles southwest of Rubaya town in the Katoyi sector in southern Masisi—on June 5 and 6.[21] Kanyuka then claimed that pro-Congolese government forces conducted an attack in Gasenyi village in Masisi on June 9.[22] CTP is unable to verify the location of Gasenyi. Pro-Congolese government sources reported on June 9 that the FARDC and Wazalendo fighters ambushed M23 and took control of Kawele village, as clashes continued in two nearby villages, including Nyakigano—three miles east of Nkokwe and roughly 10 miles from Rubaya.[23] The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that the two sides clashed in Kasenyi village in the Kibabi group, about 12 miles west of Rubaya, on June 9 and 10.[24] Radio Okapi reported that clashes between the two sides took place in Katoyi in Kashovu and Kishanja villages in the Ufamandu group on June 9 and 10.[25] Kanyuka claimed on social media that DRC coalition forces conducted an attack on Kashovu and another nearby village on June 11.[26] The two sides also reportedly clashed in Kazinga village, about 13 miles west of Masisi town, on June 9, when M23 attacked Wazalendo positions, according to Actualite.cd.[27] The two sides then clashed further north in Masisi in Bibwe village, about 15 miles southeast of Pinga town on a local road in the Bashali Mokoto group, on June 11, after M23 attacked Wazalendo positions using drones, according to Actualite.cd.[28]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu  

Nothing significant to report.  

Major Political Developments

The Congolese government and M23 are expected to resume peace talks in Switzerland soon. The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on June 10 that the tenth round of talks are expected to occur in the coming weeks.[29] The report said that the talks were scheduled for early June but postponed due to a “lack of consensus on the agenda and the negotiation schedule.”[30] The previous round of talks, held in Montreux, Switzerland, was in mid-April. Africa Intelligence reported that the United States had requested that the two sides make “tangible progress” on negotiating the pillars under the November 2025 framework agreement within 45 to 60 days during the talks in April.[31]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.