Congo War Security Review, June 19, 2026

Data Cutoff: June 19, 2026, at 11 A.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly made gains in their ongoing offensive to encircle and capture Minembwe town in the South Kivu highlands. M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in two areas near the Masisi-Walikale district border in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly repelled an M23 attack north of the RP1030 in Walikale district.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

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 made gains in their ongoing offensive to encircle and capture Minembwe town in the South Kivu highlands. CTP reported previously that the Congolese army (FARDC), the Burundian army (FDNB), and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23-aligned Twirwaneho fighters and claimed control of several villages around Minembwe town in Fizi district between June 6 and 12, launching an offensive around June 10.[1] M23 and M23-aligned sources claimed that DRC coalition forces continued conducting air attacks on at least four villages around Minembwe on June 13 and 14.[2] Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s political spokesman, claimed on social media that DRC coalition forces used heavy artillery and KT-6 and one-way attack drones in attacks around Minembwe on June 14.[3] M23-aligned media sources reported that clashes took place on the ground in several villages around Minembwe on June 14.[4]

Pro-Congolese government media sources started claiming on social media on June 15 that DRC coalition forces captured Minembwe center and other positions after clashes with Twirwaneho and other pro-M23 fighters.[5] M23-aligned media sources denied the fall of Minembwe, and several pro-DRC sources said that coalition forces had not yet reached Minembwe center, between June 15 and 17, as clashes reportedly continued.[6] The FARDC regional spokesman claimed on June 17 that the FARDC captured several villages close to the town center, including Ilundu, Kitavi, and Madegu, on June 16.[7] The FARDC said that it was conducting an offensive also to regain control of the Minembwe airfield.[8] M23-aligned sources claimed on social media that M23-aligned forces shot down an aircraft operated by DRC coalition forces, possibly a Czechoslovakian-made L-39 fighter jet stationed in Kalemie in Tanganyika province, around June 17.[9] Videos that circulated on social media showed a pilot who emerged from the downed aircraft speaking a Slavic language.[10] M23-aligned sources claimed that this was the second aircraft that M23-aligned forces had shot down in the last few days.[11]

The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported on June 17 that DRC coalition forces continued conducting the ground offensive on three lines of advance on Minembwe center: one led by the FARDC and Wazalendo fighters; the second by FARDC special forces, including Owl and Black Snake units; and the third by the FDNB and fighters from the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR).[12] M23-aligned sources disputed on social media on June 18 that Minembwe fell and claimed that control for the area remained divided.[13] Pro-Congolese government sources claimed on social media that Rwanda deployed four attack drones, claimed to be Turkish-made TB2 medium-altitude long-endurance drones, that conducted bombing runs on Minembwe and surrounding villages between June 16 and 19.[14] Fighting between the two sides reportedly continued on the ground around Minembwe on June 18, as DRC coalition forces reportedly continued conducting air attacks and attempting to recapture the airfield.[15] Twirwaneho said in a statement published on social media on June 18 that it still controlled Minembwe.[16] Fighting reportedly continued on June 19, and M23-aligned sources claimed that Twirwaneho repelled attacks by FARDC special units and regained control of several positions around Minembwe.[17] Kanyuka claimed in a statement on social media on June 19 that DRC coalition forces continued conducting airstrikes and ground attacks on Ilundu near Minembwe center on June 19.[18]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in two areas near the Masisi-Walikale district border in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters reportedly repelled an M23 attack in Buhimba village, roughly 11 miles west of Nyabiondo on the RP529, in Walikale district on June 13.[19] The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 then used drones to bomb Wazalendo positions in Kinyumba and Lwibo villages, which are around three and five miles north of Nyabiondo on a local road, respectively, on June 13.[20]

Wazalendo fighters reportedly repelled an M23 attack north of the RP1030 in Walikale district. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled the attack in two villages in the Banakindi locality in the Kisimba group north of the RP1030 in Walikale around June 13.[21] The Kisimba group is about six miles northeast of Kalembe village on the RP1030 on local roads. Kanyuka claimed in a statement on social media that DRC coalition forces conducted an attack on its positions in Bweru, roughly 12 miles south of Kalembe, on June 18.[22]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Nothing significant to report.

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.