Minembwe: M23/Twirwaneho claims victory and accuses FARDC–FDNB–Wazalendo coalition of retreat after a week of combat

Minembwe, June 19, 2026—For nearly a week, intense clashes engulfed the highlands of Fizi and Mwenga territories in South Kivu. Fighters from the Twirwaneho group, aligned with the AFC-M23 politico-military coalition, confronted the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), supported by the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB) and Kinshasa-backed Wazalendo militias.

Following the fierce engagements, Twirwaneho/M23 combatants assert they have pushed back the governmental coalition from several strategic positions surrounding Minembwe. Meanwhile, local and military accounts corroborate a significant withdrawal by the involved forces.

According to local reports, the fighting reached its peak intensity over the week, characterized by the deployment of heavy weaponry, drones, and sustained bombardments. Subsequently, the FARDC, FDNB, and their allies reportedly retreated towards the localities of Lwiko, Mutunda, and Miko, leaving various peripheral positions of Minembwe under the firm control of Twirwaneho/M23 fighters.

Residents who sought refuge in Kiziba describe scenes of widespread panic and massive civilian displacement. Numerous testimonies highlight bombardments impacting inhabited areas, though an independent casualty assessment remains unconfirmed.

The FARDC had not issued a detailed statement at the time of this report. However, local military sources confirmed a strategic repositioning following particularly violent confrontations in the Ilundu and Bidegu areas.

Unverified information from the region also suggests that Burundian military personnel from the FDNB may have abandoned equipment during their retreat towards Kakenge (Miko). Reports of human losses within the ranks of the FARDC, FDNB, and Wazalendo have emerged, though no official casualty figures are available.

Claims of victory and strategic repositioning

On the side of the Twirwaneho/M23 combatants, the narrative is one of clear military triumph. They claim to have repelled government forces and their allies beyond several front lines, thereby solidifying their control 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 averted. Despite Sukhoy bombardments, drone attacks, and heavy artillery, the forces involved were pushed back beyond the Lwiko River,” he asserted.

According to Nyarugabo, military operations launched months prior had failed to establish lasting security in the persistently unstable highlands.

He further accused the coalition of being responsible for bombardments that resulted in civilian casualties and extensive population displacement.

Allegations surrounding the FDNB presence

The presence of the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB) alongside the FARDC continues to fuel controversy across the region.

Some security sources allege that Kinshasa offered Gitega mining concessions in the Minembwe area and other parts of Fizi territory in exchange for military support. These claims have not been officially corroborated by either Congolese or Burundian authorities.

Presidents Évariste Ndayishimiye and Félix Tshisekedi have, however, confirmed 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 indicated that over 29,000 Burundian soldiers were deployed in eastern DRC between August 2022 and December 2025.

Amid these developments, the Burundian army recently conducted new redeployments in the region, against a backdrop of heightened security tensions. This follows the withdrawal of AFC-M23 rebels from the strategic town of Uvira, located near Goma and vital 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 report that elements of the AFC-M23 have withdrawn from certain positions in the Rusizi plain, reportedly under international pressure, particularly from the United States and other partners engaged in regional de-escalation efforts.

AFC-M23 and Twirwaneho central to the conflict

The March 23 Movement (M23) stands as one of the primary components of the Alliance Fleuve Congo–M23 (AFC-M23) politico-military coalition, 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 notably relies on the armed movement Twirwaneho, predominantly comprising youth from the Banyamulenge community.

Congolese authorities consistently accuse Rwanda of backing the AFC-M23 and its allies, allegations Kigali systematically denies. Rwanda, in turn, accuses Kinshasa of collaborating with the FDLR, an armed group composed of former Hutu officials implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

Burundi also alleges that Rwanda supports armed groups operating against its territory and harbors ambitions for influence in eastern DRC. Kigali rejects these accusations, while in turn reproaching Gitega for collaborating with the FDLR and other armed groups active in the region.

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

A region plagued by instability

Despite numerous regional agreements and diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating the crisis in eastern DRC, clashes continue unabated 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 inextricably intertwined with broader tensions between Kigali, Kinshasa, and Gitega.