For nearly a week, the high plateaus of Fizi and Mwenga in South Kivu have been the scene of brutal warfare. The Twirwaneho group, operating alongside the AFC-M23 alliance, reports a decisive breakthrough against the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC), which is supported by the Force de défense nationale du Burundi (FDNB) and the Wazalendo militias.
Following these heavy engagements, Twirwaneho and M23 forces stated they successfully pushed the government-led coalition away from several strategic positions surrounding Minembwe. Local observations and military accounts point toward a significant withdrawal of the pro-government forces.
According to witnesses on the ground, the fighting reached a violent peak mid-week, characterized by the use of heavy artillery, drones, and aerial strikes. The FARDC, FDNB, and their partners reportedly retreated to the areas of Lwiko, Mutunda, and Miko, leaving the outskirts of Minembwe under the control of the Twirwaneho and M23 fighters.
The humanitarian situation is deteriorating as civilians flee the violence toward Kiziba. Displaced residents describe scenes of chaos, noting that several residential zones were hit by bombardments, though an official casualty count remains difficult to establish.
While the FARDC has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the current situation, local military sources acknowledge a tactical repositioning following the fierce battles in Ilundu and Bidegu. Unconfirmed reports from the frontlines suggest that Burundian troops may have abandoned equipment during their retreat toward Kakenge. Casualties are suspected within the ranks of the FARDC, FDNB, and Wazalendo, but no official figures have been released.
Victory claims and the shifting frontlines
The mood among the Twirwaneho and M23 fighters is one of triumph. They assert that they have driven the government coalition back beyond multiple defensive lines, effectively securing their grip on the territory surrounding Minembwe.
Moïse Nyarugabo, a former national deputy, commented on the situation, describing it as a major setback for the forces targeting Minembwe. He noted that despite the deployment of Soukhoï jets, advanced drones, and heavy weaponry, the attacking forces were forced to retreat across the Lwiko River.
Nyarugabo argued that months of military operations have failed to bring lasting stability to the high plateaus. He further accused the coalition of being responsible for strikes that led to civilian deaths and the mass displacement of local communities.
Debate over the role of the FDNB
The involvement of the Burundian military alongside the FARDC continues to be a controversial topic in the region. Security analysts have suggested that Kinshasa may have offered Gitega mining concessions in the Minembwe and Fizi areas in exchange for their military support. These claims have not been officially verified by either government.
However, Presidents Évariste Ndayishimiye and Félix Tshisekedi have confirmed a bilateral security agreement that facilitates the presence of Burundian troops on Congolese soil. Internal documents indicate that over 29,000 Burundian soldiers were deployed to eastern DR Congo between late 2022 and late 2025.
Recently, the Burundian army has carried out new deployments amid rising tensions, particularly after M23 forces briefly withdrew from the strategic town of Uvira. Uvira had been occupied for roughly a month between December 2025 and January 2026 before the rebels moved out. There are also reports of AFC-M23 elements pulling back from certain spots in the Rusizi plain following international diplomatic pressure aimed at de-escalating the regional crisis.
The alliance between AFC-M23 and Twirwaneho
The M23 movement is a central pillar of the Alliance Fleuve Congo–M23 (AFC-M23), a coalition led by Corneille Nangaa, the former head of the Congolese electoral commission. In the high plateaus of South Kivu, this alliance relies heavily on Twirwaneho, a group primarily composed of youth from the Banyamulenge community.
The government in Kinshasa frequently alleges that Rwanda provides support to the AFC-M23, a claim that Kigali consistently denies. In turn, Rwanda accuses the DR Congo of collaborating with the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Burundi has also joined these accusations, claiming Rwanda supports groups hostile to Gitega, while Kigali maintains that Burundi is working with the FDLR and other regional armed groups.
The M23, a movement that resumed its armed struggle in late 2021 citing Kinshasa’s failure to honor integration agreements, currently exerts significant influence over key economic corridors and strategic towns in both North and South Kivu.
A landscape of persistent insecurity
Despite numerous regional peace initiatives and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in eastern DR Congo, the violence shows no signs of a permanent end. The high plateaus of Fizi remain one of the most volatile areas in the Great Lakes region, where local grievances are deeply intertwined with the geopolitical tensions between Kinshasa, Kigali, and Gitega.
