Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: April 2, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: The US State Department formally named Massad Boulos as President Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa prior to his tour of DRC, Rwanda, and the Great Lakes. M23-aligned Twirwaneho rebels in South Kivu rebranded their relationship with M23. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militias launched an attack on M23 in Walikale’s district capital in western North Kivu. Kenyan President and East African Community chairperson William Ruto held a virtual meeting with the team of facilitators tasked with merging regional peace processes and restarting dialogue between the DRC, Rwanda, and M23.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Nothing significant to report.

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militias launched an attack on M23 positions in Walikale’s district capital in western North Kivu. Wazalendo militias broke through M23 positions in Kampala—located about 4 miles southeast of Walikale town along the RN3—and attacked the rebels in Walikale town on April 2.[1] M23 had sent reinforcements to Kampala on March 31 after Wazalendo militias had attacked the village on at least two occasions in late March.[2]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The US State Department formally named Massad Boulos as President Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa on April 1.[3] Boulos is scheduled to begin a tour on April 3 alongside Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Corina Sanders to meet with heads of state and business leaders in the DRC, Rwanda, and Kenya, and Uganda.[4] The State Department said Boulos will seek to “advance efforts for durable peace” and “promote US private sector investment in the region” during his tour.[5]

M23-aligned Twirwaneho rebels in South Kivu reportedly rebranded their political and security relationship with M23. Independent Congolese journalist Byobe Malenga reported on social media on April 2 that Twirwaneho “dissolved” and rebranded as the Movement of Republicans for the Dignity of Peoples (MRDP).[6] Malenga reported that M23 agreed to let MRDP “take charge” of operations in South Kivu.[7] The purported agreement came after Congolese media reported on March 31 that M23 elements arrived in Minembwe town in Fizi district, where Twirwaneho/MRDP have regularly clashed with pro-Congolese government forces since late February.[8] Twirwaneho was already part of M23’s wider political coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and the UN reported in December 2024 that Twirwaneho had ties to Rwanda and had become an “AFC/M23 proxy” in South Kivu.[9]

Kenyan President William Ruto held a virtual meeting with the team of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitators tasked with merging regional peace processes and restarting dialogue between the DRC, Rwanda, and M23.[10] EAC-SADC heads of state had reshuffled and expanded the team of facilitators during a joint summit in late March.[11]