Congo War Security Review, September 25, 2026

Data Cutoff: September 25, 2026, at 12:30 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23 military and intelligence officials reportedly quelled an internal leadership mutiny involving figures from the group’s political wing. The Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+) said that it conducted a ceasefire verification mechanism in North Kivu in early September. Pro-Congolese government forces and M23-allied Twirwaneho fighters continued to engage around Minembwe town in the South Kivu highlands. Fighting continued in southern Masisi district in North Kivu as the offensive by pro-government forces stalled along a line of advance toward Ngungu town.

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 and M23-allied Twirwaneho fighters continued to engage around Minembwe town in the South Kivu highlands. CTP last reported in mid-September that Twirwaneho and pro-Congolese government forces clashed in several operationally significant areas around Minembwe.[1] The Congolese government and its allies had launched a new offensive against Twirwaneho around August 17.[2] A Congolese government-aligned source claimed on social media that pro-Congolese government forces attacked Twirwaneho in Biziba and Irumba villages, which are about two miles south of Minembwe center, on September 18.[3] Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly clashed with and bombed Twirwaneho and M23-allied fighter positions in the Basimunyaka South group southwest of Minembwe on September 19.[4] One Twirwaneho source claimed on social media that pro-Congolese government forces attacked Twirwaneho positions in Gipimo on September 19.[5] Gipimo may control access to Biziba to the north closer to Minembwe. Fighting in Basimunyaka South, including around Rugezi—about 20 miles south of Minembwe—has escalated since mid-September, when pro-Congolese government forces increased attacks on Twirwaneho.[6] Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly conducted attacks on Point Zéro using heavy artillery and one-way attack (OWA) drones on September 19.[7] Point Zéro is an operationally significant hilltop about 15 miles east of Minembwe on a local road. Congolese government-aligned media sources claimed that pro-Congolese government forces captured Natulonge, Nagishasho, and Timbyangoma villages in Basimunyaka South on September 19.[8] Twirwaneho claimed in a statement on social media on September 19 that pro-Congolese government forces had escalated attacks on its positions using heavy artillery and OWA drones for the past two days, including on Biziba, from forward positions to the south.[9] Twirwaneho fighters reportedly retaliated against recent pro-Congolese government force attacks and pushed coalition fighters back from Gipimo and other nearby villages on September 19.[10] Twirwaneho’s spokesperson, Fidèle Rugabo, claimed on social media on September 20 that pro-Congolese government forces continued conducting attacks on Twirwaneho positions with drones and artillery fire in the highlands.[11] Fighting reportedly continued on several axes around Minembwe in Mukoko, Nyaruhinga, Nyabibuye, Gipimo, Nzohaha, Rugezi, Nyagishasha, Timbyangoma and Biziba areas on September 21.[12] Several M23-aligned sources claimed on social media on September 21 and 22 that pro-Congolese government forces were reinforcing their positions in the highlands with more troops and military equipment ahead of planned ground operations.[13] One Congolese government-aligned source claimed on social media on September 22 that pro-Congolese government forces had blocked all roads around Minembwe.[14] Pro-Congolese government forces reportedly conducted attacks on M23-allied fighters in four villages, including Magunda, near the Masango area in the Basimukinji first group in the midlands northeast of Minembwe on September 24.[15] Congolese government-aligned sources claimed that Twirwaneho conducted a drone attack on pro-Congolese government positions at Mulima near Point Zéro around September 24.[16] A Twirwaneho source claimed on social media on September 24 that a rebel-operated OWA drone attacked pro-Congolese government coalition positions in Kabanja and Gipimo on September 24.[17]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Fighting continued in southern Masisi district in North Kivu as the offensive by pro-government forces stalled along a line of advance toward Ngungu town. CTP last reported in mid-September that pro-Congolese government forces reportedly made notable gains against M23 in an offensive on a key line of advance toward Ngungu town in southern Masisi.[18] Clashes between M23 and pro-Congolese government forces reportedly continued on at least two axes toward Katoyi and Ngululu towns between September 20 and 22.[19] Wazalendo fighters reportedly tried to retake control of Mitimingi, which is southwest of Katoyi and northwest of Remeka town, but M23 launched counterattacks and retained control of the area.[20] The Congolese army (FARDC) accused M23 and Rwanda of violating ceasefire commitments in attacks in Masisi and Walikale districts in North Kivu on September 22.[21] The Congolese government-aligned media outlet Tazama RDC reported on social media on September 22 that M23 still controlled several villages on the outskirts of Ngungu and that pro-Congolese government forces had not exerted significant pressure on M23’s control of Ngungu or Minova town, despite repeated reports and claims from DRC-aligned media sources and actors in recent days.[22] M23 reportedly reinforced its positions with troops and military equipment from Ngungu toward the front line and launched attacks to recapture at least one village—Muhororo—on the outskirt of Remeka, which is about 10 miles from Ngungu, from pro-Congolese government forces around September 24.[23] The FARDC and a coalition of pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters had captured Remeka and several other villages in southern Masisi in mid-September.[24] Congolese government-aligned media sources claimed on social media that fighting also took place further west in Mukohwa, Mirindano, and Ndete villages in the Nyamaboko first group closer to the border with Walikale on September 24.[25]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

M23 military and intelligence officials reportedly quelled an internal leadership mutiny involving figures from the group’s political wing. The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported on September 23 that M23 thwarted an internal “conspiracy,” as described by M23 military and intelligence officials cited by the outlet, allegedly led by Théo Binamungu and involving several political figures and military personnel who planned to oust M23 military chief Sultani Makenga and redistribute political and military posts among the plotters.[26] Théo Binamungu is an adviser to Corneille Nangaa, the head of M23’s political wing, and the North Kivu provincial coordinator for Moïse Katumbi’s political party. Africa Intelligence reported that the plot had been in the works since early 2026 but that the plotters recently had been finalizing the details and presented the plan to “members of Rwanda’s security apparatus.”[27] The report said that Makenga and his associates arrested Binamungu in late August and that M23 intelligence services began conducting a discreet investigation led by M23’s military intelligence chief, John Nzenze, into the plot.[28]

The Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+) said that it conducted a ceasefire verification mechanism in North Kivu in early September. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region said in a press release on September 20 that the EVJM+ completed a ceasefire verification field mission to Masisi district between September 10 to 12.[29] The EJVM+ is a ceasefire monitoring mechanism established in October 2025 and supported by the UN that consists of an equal number of representatives from the Congolese government and M23, along with members from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States. The EVJM+ had conducted its first mission to Minembwe in South Kivu on August 24 to 25.[30] James Swan, the head of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), visited Goma and met with M23 officials and EVJM+ personnel from September 21 to 22.[31] Officers from the FARDC and M23 held a working session under the EVJM+ in Goma on September 24.[32]

Significant US-Backed Economic Activity

Nothing significant to report.