Congo War Security Review, March 6, 2025

Data Cutoff: March 6, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaways: M23 advanced toward the Lubero district capital in northern North Kivu on the western flank of Congolese army positions, but Ugandan forces blocked their advance. Pro-Congolese government militias attacked M23 positions in several villages near Masisi town in a potential offensive to reclaim the district capital in southern North Kivu. Congolese media reported that pro-Congolese government militias “halted” M23’s advance toward the Mwenga district capital in central South Kivu. Pro-Congolese government militias recaptured a town in southern South Kivu from M23-aligned rebel groups.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

M23 advanced toward Lubero town on the western flank of Congolese army positions, but Ugandan forces blocked their advance. M23 entered Kagheri village, about 15 miles west of Lubero town in northern North Kivu, on March 3.[1] Congolese media previously reported that M23 captured Kasugho town—25 miles west of Lubero town—on March 2 in a possible attempt to flank Congolese army positions in Lubero town.[2] A Congolese journalist reported on social media that M23 withdrew from Kagheri on March 6, however, and that Ugandan troops now control the town.[3] Congolese media previously noted several Ugandan army roadblocks between Kasugho and Lubero.[4]

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government militias recaptured Mikenge village in southern South Kivu from M23-aligned rebel groups on March 5.[5] The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that Twirwaneho and Burundian RED Tabara rebels clashed with pro-Congolese government fighters in Mikenge and then withdrew to Kalinga village, located 16 miles north of Mikenge on the RP527 road.[6] Twirwaneho is a predominantly Banyamulenge rebel group that is part of M23’s wider political coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and the UN reported in December 2024 that Twirwaneho and RED Tabara had become “AFC/M23 proxies” in South Kivu.[7] Congolese media and Banyamulenge activist accounts previously claimed that pro-Congolese government militias began attacking the Mikenge area on March 3.[8]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Pro-Congolese government militias attacked M23 positions in several villages near Masisi town in a potential offensive to reclaim the district capital in southern North Kivu. The militia fighters clashed with M23 in the villages of Buabo, Lwanguba, and Kanii, on March 6.[9] Kanii is located 5 miles from Masisi town, while Lwanguba and Buabo are located 7 miles and 9 miles from Masisi, respectively. The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post reported that the pro-government militias are aiming to regain control of Masisi town, which M23 has controlled since January 5.[10] Masisi town is an important administrative center in southern North Kivu that controls a key section of the supply route on the RP529 road to the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma.[11]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Congolese media reported that pro-Congolese government militias “halted” M23’s advance toward Mwenga town in South Kivu on March 5.[12] M23 previously advanced 19 miles southwest from the Walungu district across the Kadubo River into the Mwenga district of South Kivu and reached Kalama, located 22 miles north of Mwenga town, on March 3.[13]

Major Political Developments

Nothing significant to report.