Congo War Security Review, March 17, 2025

Data Cutoff: March 17, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Pro-Congolese government militia fighters recaptured several villages in the northern Uvira district of central South Kivu. M23 continued its advance in southern Uvira district in a possible attempt to bypass Congolese army and Burundian army positions on the RN5 road and capture Uvira. M23  advanced rapidly toward the district capital of Walikale in western North Kivu. The European Union (EU) sanctioned senior Rwandan and M23 officials. M23 said that the group will withdraw from planned negotiations with the DRC in the Angola capital of Luanda due to the EU sanctions.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government militia fighters recaptured several villages in the northern Uvira district of central South Kivu. Congolese media reported that pro-Congolese government militia fighters occupied the towns of Lwanguku, Kigarama, and Rurambo, on March 15.^[i] Pro-Congolese government fighters previously attempted to retake Kigarama and several other nearby villages but failed to dislodge M23 from the area on March 13.^[ii] M23 previously captured Lwanguku—located about 32 miles south from the South Kivu provincial capital of Bukavu —on March 10.^[iii]

M23 continued its advance in southern Uvira district in a possible attempt to bypass Congolese army (FARDC) and Burundian army (FDNB) positions on the RN5 road and capture Uvira. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 advanced roughly 4 miles from   town to Kahololo and Marungu—about 17 miles from Uvira—on March 17.^[iv] M23 previously captured Kitembe and several other villages in the area on March 12.^[v]

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

M23  advanced rapidly toward the district capital of Walikale in western North Kivu. M23 broke through the Congolese army (FARDC)’s and allied militia positions in Kibati—located about 52 miles from Walikale town—and advanced 14 miles west along the RP529 road to capture Kibua on March 15.[vi] M23 advanced roughly 20 miles along the RP529 from Kibua and captured Mpofi town from pro-Congolese government forces on March 16.[vii] M23 advanced 18 miles from Mpofi along the RP529 and clashed with FARDC and pro-Congolese government fighters in Mutakato town on March 17.[viii]  Mutakato is located about 14 miles north of Walikale along the RP529 road. The Congolese media outlet Actualite.cd reported that FARDC reinforcements departed from Walikale town and headed towards Mutakato in an attempt to halt M23’s advance on March 17.[ix]

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

The European Union (EU) sanctioned senior Rwandan and M23 officials on March 17.[x] The EU measures included sanctions on a gold refinery in Rwanda and measures against nine Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and M23 officials, including a commander of the Rwandan special forces and M23 “President” Bertrand Bisimwa.[xi] The EU was expected to move ahead on a sanctions package on Rwanda after Luxembourg said it would not veto the package on March 12.[xii] The EU previously suspended defense talks with Rwanda and said it would review the bloc’s minerals agreement with Rwanda on February 24.^[xiii]

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said that the group will withdraw from planned negotiations with the DRC following the EU’s sanctions on senior Rwandan and M23 officials on March 17.[xiv] Kanyuka said the sanctions “seriously undermine direct dialogue and make any progress possible.”[xv] Angola had previously announced that the DRC and M23 would negotiate in direct peace talks in the Angola capital of Luanda on March 18.[xvi]