Data Cutoff: April 14, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST
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Key Takeaway: M23 repelled a pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militia offensive to recapture Goma from M23. M23 accused Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops of being behind the Wazalendo attack on Goma and demanded that SADC immediately withdraw. Wazalendo fighters launched an offensive on the RN2 road north of Bukavu in Kabare district in northern South Kivu. M23 repelled Wazalendo attacks on the RP529 road in between the Masisi and Walikale districts in western North Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in villages near the Walungu and Mwenga district capitals in central South Kivu.
Goma:
M23 repelled a pro-Congolese government Wazalendo militia offensive to recapture Goma from M23. “Large numbers” of Wazalendo fighters launched “well-coordinated” attacks on M23 positions in the western part of Goma and in southwest Nyiragongo district on the Goma outskirts using light and heavy weaponry on April 11 and April 12 in an attempt to retake Goma.[i] The M23-appointed governor of North Kivu said on April 12 that M23 forces “annihilated” and “quickly neutralized” the attack.[ii] Wazalendo fighters from the Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Défense du Peuple (CMC-FDP) group took responsibility for the offensive on Goma as part of a series of attacks in recent days in response to M23 attacks in an unspecified location earlier in the week.[iii] M23 has been conducting operations in the Virunga National Park and southern Rutshuru district since late March against militia fighters with suspected ties to Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), an ethnic Hutu militia with links to the Rwandan genocide.[iv] M23 claimed that the Congolese army (FARDC) and FDLR participated in the attack on Goma.[v] FARDC spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge rejected M23’s accusation and accused M23 of perpetrating an “organized and simulated” attack against civilians that killed more than 52 people to “manipulate public opinion and compromise ongoing peace efforts.”[vi] Ekenge claimed that FARDC positions are too far from Goma to support such an attack.[vii]
Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia
Nothing significant to report.
Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie
Wazalendo fighters launched an offensive from their positions in the bush on the RN2 road north of Bukavu in Kabare district in northern South Kivu. Wazalendo fighters based in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park pushed M23 back to Kabamba—about 9 miles north of the Kavumu airport on April 12.[viii] Wazalendo fighters briefly occupied Kavumu, near the entrance to the Kahuzi-Biega park on the RN3 road but withdrew peacefully to the forest on April 13.[ix] Congolese media reported that both Wazalendo fighters and M23 reinforced their positions—the latter from Bukavu—in Kabamba and in Kavumu, respectively, on April 13.[x] Clashes between M23 and Wazalendo fighters resumed on April 14 as M23 attempted to regain control of Kabamba and Kasheke—two miles north of Kabamba on the RN2.[xi] Hundreds of Wazalendo fighters had previously recaptured up to a dozen villages in the neighboring Kalehe district, northwest of the Kahuzi-Biega Park on April 9.[xii]
Wazalendo fighters recaptured up to six villages near Minembwe town in southern South Kivu from M23-aligned rebel groups. Independent Congolese journalists reported on social media on April 13 that a Wazalendo militia clashed with M23-aligned Twirwaneho rebels and took control of the villages in the Fizi district near Minembwe.[xiii] Twirwaneho rebels have regularly clashed with Wazalendo militias near Minembwe since late February.[xiv] Twirwaneho is part of M23’s wider political coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and the UN reported in December 2024 that the armed groups had ties to Rwanda and had become “AFC/M23 proxies” in South Kivu.[xv]
Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani
M23 repelled Wazalendo attacks on the RP529 road in between the Masisi and Walikale districts in western North Kivu. Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in two villages near Kashebere—about 8 miles west of the Masisi district capital—on the RP529 road on April 13.[xvi] Congolese media initially reported that Wazalendo recaptured the villages and pushed M23 back east to Kaandja, which is roughly 4 miles from Masisi, on April 13.[xvii] M23 maintained its positions in Kashebere after the Wazalendo attacks, however, and Congolese media reported on April 14 that M23 still controls the two villages near Kashebere and advanced 6 miles further west along the RP529 to Kibati.[xviii]
Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu
M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in villages near the Walungu and Mwenga district capitals in central South Kivu. M23 clashed with Wazalendo militia fighters in Burhale, which is about 9 miles south of Walungu town, on April 13.[xix] Independent Congolese journalist Daniel Michombero said on social media on April 13 that M23 sent reinforcements to Walungu district from Bukavu.[xx] The Congolese news outlet Radio Okapi reported that Wazalendo attacked M23 positions in Walungu town on April 13 but quickly withdrew.[xxi] The Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in Ihanga, which is roughly 21 miles north of the Mwenga district capital, on April 13.[xxii] M23’s offensive toward the Mwenga district capital has stalled since early March when Wazalendo fighters repelled an assault on Mwenga town.[xxiii]
Major Political Developments
M23 accused Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops of being behind the Wazalendo attack on Goma and demanded that SADC immediately withdraw. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka claimed in an April 12 communiqué that SADC participated in “joint operations” with FARDC, FDLR, and Wazalendo fighters against M23 in Goma on April 11.[xxiv] A researcher on social media disputed this claim, however, citing security sources who said that SADC troops had “remained in their bases with only limited logistics traffic” during the Wazalendo attacks.[xxv] M23 accused the SADC of “directly threatening the stability and security of civilians” and terminated a late March agreement with the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) for the phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces and demanded the immediate withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops.[xxvi] SADC denied the accusation in a statement on April 14 and said that it had not violated the agreement.[xxvii] Kanyuka also demanded on April 12 that UN peacekeepers hand over FARDC soldiers who have been stationed in UN facilities.[xxviii] UN forces also denied involvement in the April 11 attack on Goma.[xxix]
[i] https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/04/12/actualite/securite/des-tirs-nourris-et-des-bombardements-entendus-louest-de-goma; https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/clashes-hit-rebel-controlled-goma-largest-city-east-congo-2025-04-12; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/12/rdc-retour-au-calme-louest-et-au-nord-de-goma-apres-une-nuit-agitee-par-des; https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250412-est-de-la-rdc-goma-th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-d-%C3%A9changes-de-tirs-entre-l-arm%C3%A9e-congolaise-et-l-afc-m23; https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/le-gouvernement-rapporte-52-morts-lors-dune-attaque-organisee-et
[ii] https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250412-est-de-la-rdc-goma-th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-d-%C3%A9changes-de-tirs-entre-l-arm%C3%A9e-congolaise-et-l-afc-m23;
https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/12/goma-calme-retrouve-apres-des-affrontements-bahati-musanga-accuse-la-coalition-wazalendo-fdlr-fardc; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/12/actualite/securite/des-tirs-nourris-et-des-bombardements-entendus-louest-de-goma
[iii] https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250412-rdc-les-milices-wazalendo-r%C3%A9vendiquent-l-attaque-de-goma-repouss%C3%A9e-par-le-m23; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/12/goma-calme-retrouve-apres-des-affrontements-bahati-musanga-accuse-la-coalition-wazalendo-fdlr-fardc; https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/clashes-hit-rebel-controlled-goma-largest-city-east-congo-2025-04-12; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/09/rutshuru-violents-combats-entre-les-presumes-fdlr-et-m23-a-pena-dans-le-parc-de-virunga
[iv] https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/09/rutshuru-violents-combats-entre-les-presumes-fdlr-et-m23-a-pena-dans-le-parc-de-virunga; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/03/31/rutshuru-accrochages-entre-le-m23-et-des-wazalendo-a-machazo; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/03/28/rutshuru-violents-accrochages-entre-le-m23-et-wazalendo-a-nkwenda; https://www.defenceweb dot co.za/african-news/samidrc-troops-to-withdraw-by-road-through-rwanda
[v] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1911263245609877748; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/12/actualite/securite/des-tirs-nourris-et-des-bombardements-entendus-louest-de-goma
[vi] https://x.com/afrikarabia/status/1911158389503107159; https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/clashes-hit-rebel-controlled-goma-largest-city-east-congo-2025-04-12; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/le-gouvernement-rapporte-52-morts-lors-dune-attaque-organisee-et; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/les-fardc-refutent-les-accusations-de-lafcm23-concernant-une-attaque; https://actualite.cd/2025/04/13/est-de-la-rdc-les-fardc-considerent-les-attaques-de-lafcm23-comme-une-manoeuvre; https://apnews.com/article/congo-goma-m23-wazalendo-rebels-f4c6dcbc9b2a48a6997111cf499c3e1b; https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250414-est-de-la-rdc-l-arm%C3%A9e-d%C3%A9nonce-une-accusation-infond%C3%A9e-du-groupe-afc-m23-suite-%C3%A0-des-combats-%C3%A0-goma
[vii] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911423250984214959; https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250414-est-de-la-rdc-l-arm%C3%A9e-d%C3%A9nonce-une-accusation-infond%C3%A9e-du-groupe-afc-m23-suite-%C3%A0-des-combats-%C3%A0-goma; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/14/rdc-les-fardc-dementent-une-attaque-contre-goma-et-accusent-lafc-m23-de-manipulation
[viii] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/les-fardc-et-les-wazalendo-lancent-des-offensives-contre-le-m23-sur; https://x.com/AKimonyo/status/1911144002583150910; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/sud-kivu-des-combat-entre-wazalendo-et-m23-signale-katana-kabamba-et-kayandja
[ix] https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911361530051887169; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/rdc-sud-kivu-presence-des-wazalendo-kavumu-et-kabamba-sans-affrontements; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/kabare-le-m23-reprend-kavumu-apres-affrontements-avec-les-wazalendo; https://www.mediacongo dot net/article-actualite-149587_situation_a_kavumu_7_morts_13_blesses_l_aeroport_sous_controle_du_m23.html; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911407122568347666
[x] 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/1911361530051887169; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/rdc-sud-kivu-presence-des-wazalendo-kavumu-et-kabamba-sans-affrontements; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911407122568347666
[xi] https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1911723582658322815; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1911752652355928173; https://x.com/KadimaYassin/status/1911761821171605576; https://x.com/KadimaYassin/status/1911781431623197139
[xii] https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/10/kalehe-une-dizaine-dagglomerations-passent-sous-controle-des-wazalendo-apres-des; https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/10/actualite/securite/apres-3-jours-de-combat-8-localites-de-kalehe-jadis-controlees-par-les; https://x.com/TazamaRDC_Infos/status/1910257116046119385; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/08/kalehe-affrontements-entre-m23-et-wazalendo-bushaku-katale-et-kafufula; https://x.com/michombero/status/1908797341835870342
[xiii] https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1911378937210425537; https://x.com/michombero/status/1911384583511122210
[xiv] https://x.com/KivuMorningPost/status/1892941868578611650; https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250221-rdc-l-arm%C3%A9earau; https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1894331138380107849; https://actualite dot cd/2025/03/06/rdc-mwenga-les-wazalendo-reprennent-le-village-mikenge-apres-de-violents-combats-contre; https://actualite dot cd/2025/03/21/mwenga-cinq-morts-dans-des-affrontements-entre-wazalendo-et-twirwaheno-mikenge; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/03/31/sud-kivu-les-rebelles-de-lafc-m23-reussissent-a-joindre-les-twirwaneho-a-minembwe; https://x.com/byobe_malenga/status/1910296913653514260
[xv] https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/373/37/pdf/n2437337.pdf
[xvi] https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/nord-kivu-les-wazalendo-delogent-le-m23-de-kibanda-et-kasopo-pres-de-kashebere; https://x.com/FredMASTAKI6/status/1911679694388302050; https://x.com/michombero/status/1911678010492678477
[xvii] https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/13/nord-kivu-les-wazalendo-delogent-le-m23-de-kibanda-et-kasopo-pres-de-kashebere; https://x.com/FredMASTAKI6/status/1911679694388302050; https://x.com/michombero/status/1911678010492678477
[xviii] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/14/actualite/securite/nord-kivu-les-rebelles-du-m23-signales-kashebere-et-kibati; https://x.com/TazamaFact/status/1911703411646415083
[xix] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/13/actualite/securite/les-fardc-et-les-wazalendo-lancent-des-offensives-contre-le-m23-sur; https://x.com/michombero/status/1911369541461946421
[xx] https://x.com/michombero/status/1911369541461946421
[xxi] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/14/actualite/securite/sud-kivu-retour-au-calme-apres-des-violences-kavumu-et-walungu
[xxii] https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/14/mwenga-m23-et-wazalendo-saffrontent-dans-le-village-de-butondo
[xxiii] https://www.congo-press dot com/provinces/agression-rwandaise-les-positions-des-fardc-et-wazalendo-attaquees-ce-lundi-par-le-m23-afc-a-la-frontiere-entre-le-maniema-et-le-sud-kivu; https://x.com/pbeyok/status/1899462212948840626; https://x.com/sergesindani01/status/1899492573795787057
[xxiv] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1911263245609877748; https://kivumorningpost dot com/2025/04/14/rdc-lafc-m23-somme-la-samirdc-de-quitter-goma
[xxv] https://x.com/darren_olivier/status/1911312412923277542
[xxvi] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1911263245609877748
[xxvii] https://x.com/SADC_News/status/1911785992417145077; https://actualite dot cd/2025/04/14/goma-la-sadc-refute-les-allegations-de-la-rebellion-afcm23-et-reaffirme-son-attachement
[xxviii] https://x.com/LawrenceKanyuka/status/1911263245609877748
[xxix] https://www.radiookapi dot net/2025/04/14/actualite/securite/la-monusco-dement-son-implication-dans-des-preparatifs-dattaque