Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: April 11, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: M23 captured villages in Lubero district in northern North Kivu for the first time since late February. M23 repelled pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters’ attacks on the Masisi district capital in northern North Kivu and launched limited counterattacks in nearby villages. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the DRC of violating a ceasefire in an April 11 communiqué.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

M23 captured villages in Lubero district in northern North Kivu for the first time since late February. The Congolese news outlet Radio Okapi cited security sources on April 11 who said that M23 “has occupied seven villages” in Lubero district since April 9.[1] Independent Congolese journalist Byobe Malenga corroborated this report on social media on April 11 but also did not provide additional details.[2] The Ugandan army (UPDF) has blocked M23’s attempts to flank pro-Congolese government forces in Lubero town since late February, but UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi said on social media in late March that the UPDF was considering withdrawing its troops from Lubero town.[3]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23 repelled pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters’ attacks on the Masisi district capital in northern North Kivu and launched limited counterattacks in nearby villages. Congolese media said in separate reports on April 11 that Wazalendo fighters had attacked M23 on the outskirts of Masisi town, but M23 recaptured Buabo—a village about 9 miles southwest of Masisi town—after Wazalendo fighters withdrew from the town.[4] The Congolese news outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that Wazalendo and M23 clashed in Lwanguba on April 11, roughly 3 miles south of Masisi center, on April 11.[5] M23 had captured Masisi town in early January, and Wazalendo militia fighters have regularly clashed with M23 in Masisi district after pro-Congolese government forces began launching intermittent attacks near Masisi town in early March.[6]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the DRC of violating a ceasefire in an April 11 communiqué.[7] Kanyuka claimed that the Congolese army (FARDC) violated the ceasefire after FARDC reoccupied Walikale town in western North Kivu following M23’s withdrawal on April 3.[8] Kanyuka also claimed that FARDC attacked civilians and M23 positions in several districts in North Kivu and South Kivu but provided no evidence.[9] M23 has previously justified its territorial advances despite ceasefires using similar rhetoric in the past.[10]

[1] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/11/actualite/securite/poursuite-des-combats-dans-les-kivu-malgre-les-negociations-doha-sous

[2] https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1910695977511493671

[3] https://x.com/GeorgesKisando/status/1897568684484235417; https://actualite dot cd/2025/03/04/rdc-lubero-les-rebelles-du-m23-kasugho-entre-une-colline-des-gorilles-et-un-bas-fond-dor; https://actualite dot cd/2025/03/07/nord-kivu-sans-combat-le-m23-se-retire-de-kasugho-et-prend-la-direction-de-bunyatenge; https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1660907/politique/guerre-dans-lest-de-la-rdc-larmee-congolaise-exhorte-ses-fuyards-a-reprendre-les-combats; https://x.com/ChrisOMagezi/status/1906260522711802361

[4] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/11/actualite/securite/poursuite-des-combats-dans-les-kivu-malgre-les-negociations-doha-sous; https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1910695977511493671; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/11/masisi-le-m23-reprend-le-controle-de-buabo-centre

[5] https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/11/masisi-le-m23-reprend-le-controle-de-buabo-centre

[6] https://kivumorningpost dot cd/2025/01/02/masisi-la-localite-de-kaniro-passe-sous-controle-du-m23; https://actualite dot cd/index.php/2025/01/02/masisi-combats-entre-les-wazalendo-et-le-m23-dans-plusieurs-localites-du-groupement; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/01/03/actualite/securite/violents-combats-entre-fardc-et-m23-jeudi-dans-le-territoire-de-masisi; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/03/06/masisi-violents-affrontements-entre-m23-et-wazalendo-a-buabo; https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1898010074724897172; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1897993653462704570; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/03/08/actualite/securite/poursuite-des-affrontements-entre-les-fardc-et-le-m23-dans-le; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/03/18/masisi-violents-combats-pres-de-kahanga-entre-m23-et-wazalendo; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/01/rdc-combats-ce-mardi-entre-les-rebelles-de-lafcm23-et-les-miliciens-apcls-masisi-centre; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/03/actualite/securite/affrontements-m23-wazalendo-masisi-les-habitants-terres-dans-leurs; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/03/rdc-nouveaux-affrontements-entre-le-m23-et-les-miliciens-de-lapcls-masisi-centre-ce; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/03/masisi-centre-violents-affrontements-entre-wazalendo-et-m23; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/11/actualite/securite/poursuite-des-combats-dans-les-kivu-malgre-les-negociations-doha-sous

[7] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1910434319052525672

[8] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1910434319052525672; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/03/rdc-larmee-et-les-wazalendo-de-retour-walikale-centre-apres-le-retrait-des-rebelles-de; https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-rebels-leave-strategic-town-ahead-planned-doha-talks-2025-04-04

[9] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1910434319052525672

[10] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1886488350393049173; https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1893524401770868824; https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1894488776111472847