Congo War Security Review, August 14, 2026

Data Cutoff: August 14, 2026, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (IGC) urged the DRC to implement a plan to disarm and demobilize the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). The DRC, Rwanda, and observer nations convened for the sixth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) meeting under the Washington Accords. The DRC gave a progress report on its implementation of the Washington Accords to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). M23 and pro-Congolese government forces clashed in several areas in Kalehe district in South Kivu.

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

M23 and pro-Congolese government forces clashed in several areas in Kalehe district in South Kivu. M23 and pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters reportedly clashed in Bunje, Chabikere, Mpanama, and Katale villages, which are in the Ziralo group in northern Kalehe district near the border with North Kivu, on August 7.[i] The Congolese army (FARDC) accused M23 of using 82mm mortars to bomb areas in Bunje.  M23 blamed pro-Congolese government forces for an explosion in Lumbishi village, which is in Kalehe between the Ziralo group and Numbi, a mineral trading center, on August 7.[iii]

The two sides continued to clash in Chambombo, Kazinga, Lumbishi, and other nearby villages on August 11 and 12.[iv] Chambombo is around five miles south of Lumbishi in Kalehe district and Kazinga is around fifteen miles northeast of Lumbishi in Masisi district, North Kivu. Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s spokesman, claimed on social media that pro-Congolese government forces had conducted “heavy artillery attacks” on several areas in Kalehe district, including Chambombo, on August 11.[v] The FARDC reportedly repelled M23 attacks on positions in Katale and Mpanama on August 11 and 12.[vi] The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 bombed areas in Chambombo and Lumbishi on August 12.[vii] Pro-Congolese government media sources started claiming on social media on August 12 that Wazalendos had captured Chambombo, Lumbishi, and Kazinga.[viii] The Congolese news outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that FARDC and Wazalendos continued to clash with M23 in Lumbishi on August 13, however.[ix] The two sides last clashed in Kalehe district in mid-July.[x]

Pro-Congolese government forces repelled M23 attacks north of Bukavu in South Kivu. The FARDC reportedly repelled M23 attacks on Kabulungu and Mbayo villages in Kabare district on August 11.[xi] Kabulungu and Mbayo are around four miles north and northwest of Kavumu airport, respectively.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Pro -Congolese government fighters reportedly repelled M23 attacks and made minor gains north of the RP1030 in Walikale district in North Kivu. Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendos repelled an M23 attack on Misambo village, which is around four miles northwest of Rusamambu, on August 8.[xii] Actualite.cd reported separately that Wazalendos repelled an M23 attack on Katobo village, which is around two miles northeast of Ihula village, on August 10.[xiii] Misambo and Katobo are both located in the Kisimba group, which is in a remote area about six miles north of Kalembe and 10 miles east of Pinga in Walikale. Actualite.cd reported separately that Wazalendos dislodged M23 fighters from positions in Kazuba village after launching an attack on August 12.[xiv] Kazuba is also reportedly in Kisimba group.[xv] The two sides have clashed in Kisimba several times since late July.[xvi]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (IGC) urged the DRC to implement a plan to disarm and demobilize the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). The ICG, composed of the United States, Canada, several European nations, and the European Union, released a statement on August 13 taking “good note” of the DRC's late July announcement that the Congolese government and FDLR had signed a protocol to disarm, demobilize, and canton the group.[xvii] The ICG called for the DRC to “promptly develop an operational plan and a realistic timeline to implement an effective FDLR neutralization” and encouraged the DRC and Rwanda to comply with their commitments outlined in the Washington Accords.[xviii] The IGC noted that “any colocation or operational collaboration” with the FDLR contradicted with the DRC’s commitment to the peace process.[xix] The ICG also recognized the early August prisoner exchange between the DRC government and M23 as a “vital confidence-building measure to de-escalate tension and foster trust between the warring parties.”[xx]

The DRC, Rwanda, and observer nations convened for the sixth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) meeting under the Washington Accords. Representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, along with Qatar, Togo as the African Union (AU) mediator, and the United States, met in Geneva, Switzerland on August 12 and 13 for the first time since mid-July.[xxi] The readout said that the DRC and Rwanda agreed to two initiatives meant to “strengthen monitoring and verification of Washington Accords implementation on the ground.”[xxii] The DRC and Rwanda asked the United States to consider the initiatives and give feedback at the next JSCM meeting, which will take place on September 16 and 17 in Geneva.[xxiii] The parties also agreed to a “trilateral planning conference” in October 2026 meant to produce a revised Operations Order  (OPORD) to guide their continued implementation of the Washington Accords.[xxiv] The AU Commission presented the outcomes of an AU meeting in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, in late July.[xxv] The DRC also presented its FDLR demobilization plan and fielded questions from JSCM members.[xxvi] JSCM members met with representatives of the UN mission to the DRC (MONUSCO) to learn about the mission’s experience with demobilizing armed groups in eastern DRC.[xxvii]

The DRC gave a progress report on its implementation of the Washington Accords to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Floribert Anzuluni, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi’s special envoy and the Minister of Regional Integration, met with the SADC Council of Ministers to discuss the peace process and the DRC’s FDLR demobilization plan on August 12.[xxviii] The  SADC has been heavily involved in peace efforts in eastern DRC, and the SADC deployed a force with an offensive mandate against M23 to the region from late 2023 to early 2025.[xxix] Representatives from the SADC attended a meeting with the AU and Government of Botswana in Gaborone in late July that discussed how to coordinate peace processes in the eastern DRC.[xxx]

The Congolese government and M23 may resume talks in Switzerland soon for the first time since April. The M23-aligned Congolese journalist Steve Wembi reported on August 8 that the two sides are considering a meeting in Switzerland toward the end of the month.[xxxi] M23 and the DRC government previously met in Montreux, Switzerland in mid-April, but a “lack of consensus on the agenda and the negotiation schedule” has postponed follow-up meetings.[xxxii]

Significant US-Backed Regional Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.