Congo War Security Review
A daily review of activity related to the war in the eastern DRC between M23 and its Rwandan backers and pro-Congolese government forces every Monday through Friday. Map shapefiles are available by request via email at [email protected].
Data Cutoff: April 15, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST
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Key Takeaway: M23 regained control of several villages on the RN2 road in between the Kalehe and Kabare districts in northern South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near the Masisi district capital in an attempt to overturn M23’s gains over the last week.
Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia
Nothing significant to report.
Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie
M23 regained control of several villages on the RN2 road in between the Kalehe and Kabare districts in northern South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported on social media that M23 forces retook control of the villages—including Kasheke and Kabamba, which are roughly 11 miles and 9 miles north of Kavumu airport, respectively—on April 15.[1] Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militia fighters had launched an offensive against M23 on the RN2 road from their positions in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park on April 12.[2] French state media reported that M23 forces deployed additional troops to the RN2 between Kavumu and Katana, about 4 miles south of Kabamba, to support M23 operations against Wazalendo fighters in Kabamba on April 14.[3]
Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani
Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 near the Masisi district capital to overturn M23’s gains over the last week. The Congolese media outlet Tazama RDC reported that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in Buabo—a village about 9 miles southwest of Masisi town—on April 15.[4] The outlet said that Wazalendo fighters were attempting to regain control of “six positions” captured by M23 near Masisi town and had managed to retake “four of the six positions they lost last week.”[5] M23 recaptured Buabo after Wazalendo fighters withdrew from the town on April 11.[6] M23 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.[7]
Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu
Nothing significant to report.
Major Political Developments
Nothing significant to report.
[1] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1912085905038323792
[2] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/les-fardc-et-les-wazalendo-lancent-des-offensives-contre-le-m23-sur; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/sud-kivu-des-combat-entre-wazalendo-et-m23-signale-katana-kabamba-et-kayandja; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911752652355928173; https://x.com/KadimaYassin/status/1911761821171605576
[3] https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250414-rdc-tensions-et-affrontements-%C3%A0-katana-au-sud-kivu-entre-l-afc-m23-et-les-wazalendo
[4] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1912085905038323792
[5] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1912085905038323792
[6] https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/11/masisi-le-m23-reprend-le-controle-de-buabo-centre; https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1910695977511493671; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/11/actualite/securite/poursuite-des-combats-dans-les-kivu-malgre-les-negociations-doha-sous
[7] 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
