Minembwe: m23/twirwaneho claims victory amid fierce clashes with fardc coalition

Minembwe—Violent confrontations have gripped the high plateaus of Fizi and Mwenga territories in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, for nearly a week. Forces from the Twirwaneho movement, aligned with the AFC-M23 politico-military coalition, engaged in intense battles against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), supported by Burundi’s National Defense Force (FDNB) and Kinshasa-backed Wazalendo militias.

Following the protracted fighting, Twirwaneho/M23 combatants assert they have successfully pushed back the government coalition from several strategic positions surrounding Minembwe. Concurrently, both local and military sources indicate a tactical retreat by the engaged government forces.

Eyewitness accounts from the area describe the clashes reaching peak intensity throughout the week, characterized by the deployment of heavy weaponry, drones, and extensive bombardments. Subsequently, the FARDC, FDNB, and their allies reportedly withdrew towards the settlements of Lwiko, Mutunda, and Miko, leaving various peripheral positions of Minembwe under the control of Twirwaneho/M23 fighters.

Residents who fled the conflict zones to Kiziba recounted scenes of widespread panic and significant civilian displacement. Numerous testimonies highlight bombardments impacting residential areas, though an independent assessment of casualties remains unconfirmed.

The FARDC has yet to issue a comprehensive statement, but local military personnel have corroborated a strategic repositioning following exceptionally fierce engagements in the Ilundu and Bidegu sectors.

Unverified reports from the conflict zone suggest that Burundian FDNB soldiers may have abandoned equipment during their withdrawal towards Kakenge (Miko). Unofficial reports also indicate human losses within the ranks of the FARDC, FDNB, and Wazalendo, with no official casualty figures currently available.

Victory claims and accusations

On the side of the Twirwaneho/M23 combatants, a clear message of military triumph resonates. They claim to have driven government forces and their allies beyond multiple front lines, thereby solidifying their hold on positions around Minembwe.

Former Congolese national deputy Moïse Nyarugabo commended what he described as a “retreat of forces engaged against Minembwe.”

“The threat to Minembwe has been neutralized. Despite Sukhoi bombardments, drone strikes, and heavy artillery, the opposing forces were repelled beyond the Lwiko river,” he stated.

Nyarugabo further asserted that military operations launched months ago have failed to establish lasting security in the consistently volatile highlands.

He also leveled accusations against the coalition, holding them responsible for bombardments that resulted in civilian casualties and massive population displacements.

Controversy surrounding FDNB presence

The deployment of Burundi’s National Defense Force (FDNB) alongside the FARDC continues to fuel regional controversy.

Certain security sources allege that Kinshasa may have offered Gitega mining concessions in the Minembwe area and other parts of Fizi territory in exchange for military assistance. These claims, however, remain unverified by either Congolese or Burundian authorities.

Presidents Évariste Ndayishimiye and Félix Tshisekedi have acknowledged the existence of a bilateral security cooperation agreement permitting Burundian forces to operate on Congolese soil. A report from the Congolese Ministry of Interior and Security revealed that over 29,000 Burundian soldiers were reportedly deployed to eastern DRC between August 2022 and December 2025.

Amidst escalating security tensions, the Burundian army recently undertook new redeployments in the region. This follows the withdrawal of AFC-M23 rebels from the strategically vital city of Uvira, located near Goma and crucial transport routes connecting eastern Congo to Burundi. Uvira had been under rebel occupation for nearly a month between December 2025 and January 2026 before their retreat.

More recently, local sources also confirm that AFC-M23 elements have pulled back from certain positions in the Rusizi plain, reportedly due to international pressure, particularly from the United States and other partners involved in regional de-escalation efforts.

AFC-M23 and Twirwaneho at the heart of the conflict

The March 23 Movement (M23) currently stands as a primary component of the Alliance Fleuve Congo–M23 (AFC-M23) politico-military coalition. This alliance is led by Corneille Nangaa, former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the South Kivu highlands, this coalition primarily relies on the Twirwaneho armed movement, which is predominantly comprised of young individuals from the Banyamulenge community.

Congolese authorities consistently accuse Rwanda of providing support to the AFC-M23 and its allies, allegations consistently denied by Kigali. Conversely, Rwanda accuses Kinshasa of collaborating with the FDLR, an armed group consisting of former Hutu officials implicated in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

Burundi, in turn, accuses Rwanda of backing armed groups operating against its territory and harboring ambitions for influence in eastern DRC. Kigali refutes these accusations, while simultaneously reproaching Gitega for its alleged collaboration with the FDLR and other armed factions active in the region.

Within this climate of persistent tensions, the M23/AFC, a predominantly Tutsi movement that resumed hostilities in late 2021 citing Kinshasa’s failure to honor reintegration commitments, now controls or influences several strategic areas in North and South Kivu, including key economic arteries and localities.

A persistently unstable region

Despite numerous regional agreements and diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating the crisis in eastern DRC, clashes persist on the ground, with no immediate prospect of lasting peace.

The Fizi highlands thus remain one of the most volatile flashpoints in the Great Lakes region, where local rivalries are intricately interwoven with broader tensions between Kigali, Kinshasa, and Gitega.

Local militiamen at the M23 attack in Bashali, while clashes pit various armed groups against each other in Minembwe, amidst heightened tensions in eastern DRC.