Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: April 8, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: A Wazalendo fighter claimed during a town hall meeting in Uvira town in southern South Kivu that Burundian troops have restrained Wazalendo militia fighters from engaging with M23. The DRC suspended all contracts with US lobbying firms as part of ongoing discussions with the US on a potential minerals-for-security deal. Wazalendo militias clashed with M23 for the second straight day in an area on the border between North Kivu and South Kivu. Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in southern Lubero district in central North Kivu.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in southern Lubero district in central North Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Radio Okapi reported that Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in the area near Luofu on April 8.[1] Luofo is about 55 miles south of the Lubero district capital in northern North Kivu and roughly 8 miles west from Kirumba, which M23 captured in late 2024.[2]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

A Wazalendo fighter claimed during a town hall meeting in Uvira town, southern South Kivu, that Burundian troops have restrained Wazalendo militia fighters from engaging with M23. A Wazalendo fighter claimed during the meeting that Wazalendo militias were “encountering difficulties” on the front lines with M23 because Burundian army (FDNB) troops have prohibited the militia fighters from attacking M23 positions—specifically in Kamanyola and Nyangezi, two towns south of Bukavu on the RN5 near the tri-border area of Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda.[3] FDNB troops and Wazalendo fighters have been within roughly seven miles of M23 in Kamanyola since late February but have only clashed with M23 on one reported occasion in late March.[4] Congolese media has reported numerous clashes between M23 and Wazalendo fighters in Nyangezi since late March but has not reported the presence of FDNB troops.[5] CTP has previously assessed that Burundi and Rwanda have sought to deconflict near their joint border area in the DRC to avoid a direct conflict.[6]

Wazalendo militias clashed with M23 for the second straight day in an area on the border between North Kivu and South Kivu. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in several villages in the Ziralo commune in northern Kalehe district on April 7.[7] Wazalendo fighters had attacked M23 in two villages near Ziralo commune on April 6.[8] Actualite.cd said on April 7 that residents reported the presence of “hundreds of Wazalendo” fighters near Ziralo.[9]

Wazalendo fighters attacked M23-aligned rebels near Minembwe town in southern South Kivu. Independent Congolese journalist Daniel Michombero reported that Wazalendo militias attacked M23-aligned Twirwaneho rebels in three villages near Minembwe town on April 7 and April 8.[10] Twirwaneho fighters have regularly clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militias near Minembwe since late February.[11] Twirwaneho is 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.[12] A Congolese journalist reported on April 2 that M23 agreed to let Twirwaneho “take charge” of operations in South Kivu after Twirwaneho “dissolved” and rebranded as the Movement of Republicans for the Dignity of Peoples (MRDP).[13]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Nothing significant to report.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The DRC suspended all contracts with US lobbying firms as part of ongoing discussions with the US on a potential minerals-for-security deal. DRC spokesperson Tina Salama announced that the DRC had cancelled the contracts to prioritize “direct exchanges” with the Trump administration in an April 7 communiqué.[14] French media reported that the DRC likely undertook the measure to address “confusion” within the Trump administration due to the numerous US lobbying firms on the DRC’s payroll.[15] President Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, had announced after meeting with Tshisekedi in early April that Trump “agreed on a path forward” for a potential minerals-for-security agreement between the DRC and the United States.[16]