Congo War Security Review, July 3, 2026

Data Cutoff: July 3, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters continued to clash with and retake positions from pro-Congolese government forces in the South Kivu highlands. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters conducted an offensive against M23 in the Kalehe district highlands in northern South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters conducted an offensive against M23 in southern Masisi district in North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 around the RP1030 on the Masisi-Walikale district border in North Kivu.

Kinetic Activity in Rutshuru & Eastern Masisi Districts

M23 reportedly repelled an armed bandit incursion in Rutshuru district in North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that M23 repelled an incursion by armed bandits in Kibirizi village in the northeastern part of the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru on June 28.[1] Kibirizi is near the edge of the Virunga National Park and roughly 10 miles south of the Rwindi airport on the RN2.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

M23-allied Twirwaneho militia fighters continued to clash with and retake positions from pro-Congolese government forces in the South Kivu highlands. CTP reported previously that Twirwaneho forces repelled a pro-Congolese government offensive on Minembwe town in Fizi district and launched a counteroffensive around June 19, as clashes then continued throughout the week and Twirwaneho took back multiple positions.[2] The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that clashes between Twirwaneho and pro-Congolese government forces continued in Ilundu and other nearby village near Minembwe on June 26.[3] Twirwaneho and M23’s spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, claimed that pro-Congolese government forces bombed Ilundu, Bidegu, and a hilltop near Minembwe using one-way attack and KT-6 combat drones on June 27.[4] An independent journalist for the Congolese news outlet Radio Maendeleo reported on social media that a combat drone targeted FARDC and Wazalendo positions at Point Zéro, which is a hilltop about 15 miles east of Minembwe, on June 28.[5] Twirwaneho reportedly conducted a drone attack on a camp housing Burundian army personnel in the Mushimbakye neighborhood in Baraka town—roughly 65 miles from Minembwe by road in Fizi district—on June 30.[6] Possibly a separate drone attack attributed to Twirwaneho and the Rwandan army (RDF) targeted the Baraka airfield and several Congolese army (FARDC) helicopters operating in the area on June 30.[7] Twirwaneho claimed that they shot down two FARDC helicopters in the attack, but pro-Congolese government sources claimed that the drones missed their targets and crashed near the airfield.[8]

Clashes around Minembwe resumed on July 1, when Twirwaneho reportedly dislodged FARDC and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters and recaptured Mikenge, which is about 15 miles north of Minembwe on the RP527, and nearby Tuwetuwe and Bilalombili villages—the latter about five miles south of Mikenge.[9] Pro-Congolese government media sources claimed that RDF drones helped Twirwaneho fighters on the ground recapture Mikenge.[10] Clashes continued on this axis on July 2, as Twirwaeho contingents reportedly captured another key position near Mikenge and moved south toward Point Zéro.[11] Pro-Congolese government media sources claimed that the RDF reinforced ranks in the highlands and bombed pro-Congolese government positions around Mikenge, Bilalombili, and Point Zéro using drones on July 2, as clashes continued.[12] Pro-Congolese government journalist Daniel Michombero claimed on social media on July 3 that the FARDC retook several positions around Bilalombli from Twirwaneho.[13] A drone attack attributed to M23-aligned forces then reportedly targeted Mulima village in the Basilocha group, reported to be near Point Zéro, on July 3.[14]

Wazalendo fighters conducted an offensive against M23 in the Kalehe district highlands in northern South Kivu. Radio Maendeleo reported that Wazalendo fighters launched an offensive against M23 and captured several positions around Lumbishi and Chambombo villages on June 27.[15] Lumbishi is between the Ziralo group and Numbi, a mineral trading center, about four miles south of Kashovu village in Masisi district in North Kivu. Chambombo is roughly 13 miles southwest of Numbi on a local road. Kanyuka and M23-aligned media sources claimed that pro-Congolese government forces targeted Lumbishi again in attacks on June 28, as clashes continued in several villages in the Buzi and Ziralo groups, according to Radio Maendeleo.[16] Fighting also took place to the south near Katasomwa village, which is on the northern tip of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in southern Kalehe, on June 29, according to Radio Maendeleo.[17] Radio Maendeleo reported that M23 then dislodged Wazalendo fighters from positions near Ziralo group and Lumbishi on June 29, as fighting continued in northern Kalehe.[18] M23 launched counterattacks on Wazalendo fighters and also recaptured Chambombo to the south of Lumbishi on June 30.[19]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Pro-Congolese government forces conducted an offensive against M23 in southern Masisi district in North Kivu. The FARDC and Wazalendo fighters reportedly launched attacks on M23 in several areas in southern Masisi on June 26, mainly near Ngungu town and in the Kibabi group near Rubaya town to the north.[20] Pro-Congolese government media outlets claimed that the FARDC and Wazalendo fighters took control of Kasake village, about five miles southwest of Ngungu, as early as June 27, as clashed continued for two more days in the surrounding area and in Kibabi, where pro-Congolese government forces reportedly clashed with M23 around Luke and Kasenyi and claimed control of Kawere and Kanyaru villages—the latter about five miles southwest of Rubaya.[21] Clashes between M23 and Wazalendo fighters reportedly resumed in Kibabi and on the Ngungu axis on July 1 and 2.[22]

Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 around the RP1030 on the Masisi-Walikale district border in North Kivu. Radio Okapi reported that Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in Bibwe and Minjenje villages, around 15 miles southeast and east, of Pinga on local roads, respectively, on June 26.[23] The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters repelled an M23 attack near Kalinga village, which is around 10 miles south of Bukumbirwa in the remote Ikobo group north of the RP1030 in Walikale district, on June 28.[24] Kanyuka claimed on social media that pro-Congolese government forces conducted several armed incursions in Bibwe on June 29.[25] The two sides reportedly clashed again near Bibwe on July 1.[26] Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendos repelled an M23 attack in Bulende—a few miles north of Bibwe—on July 1, after M23 used drones and tried to bypass enemy positions on the RP1030 to reach Mpeti, about 12 miles east of Pinga.[27] Actualite.cd reported separately that M23 then reinforced its positions with fighters and military equipment on four lines of advance toward Pinga on July 2.[28]

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.