Goma : new fighting between the M23 and the Wazalendo militias forces thousands of civilians to flee

SOS Médias Burundi

Goma, November 27, 2025 — Violent clashes erupted at dawn on Thursday between M23 rebels, affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military movement hostile to Kinshasa, and the local Wazalendo militias, supported by the Congolese authorities. The confrontation took place in the locality of Kibati, in the Luberike groupment, Walikale territory, North Kivu province.

According to administration and security sources, the Wazalendo launched an offensive on positions held by the M23, using light and heavy weapons. Continuous explosions plunged the population into panic, while traffic between Kibua and Kashebere was paralyzed, isolating several villages. Kibati thus suffered its fourth attack by the Wazalendo in just a few weeks, as part of the reconquest of this strategic area.

Regional context and airstrikes

The FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) deployed their air force to strike AFC/M23 positions in Kibati (Walikale) and Kasopo (Masisi). The strikes, reported around 9:00 a.m., generated thick plumes of smoke visible for several kilometers. No official casualty figures are available, as the area remains difficult to access.

The M23, a former Tutsi rebel group that resumed armed struggle in late 2021, accuses the Congolese authorities of failing to honor their commitments to reintegration. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the movement, while UN experts claim that 6,000 Rwandan soldiers have been deployed to eastern Congo to support the M23—allegations that Kigali denies.

Meanwhile, Burundi has deployed more than 10,000 soldiers in both Kivus to support the FARDC and the Wazalendo militias in the fight against the M23.

Spread of the conflict in South Kivu and military unrest

In South Kivu, the M23 continues its advance in the Mwenga territory, seizing towns such as Kilungutwe, Kasika, and Cidasa, after clashes with the FARDC, Burundian troops, and the Wazalendo. Some soldiers in retreat have reportedly fled to the Lwindi Mountains, and some are accused by the local population of looting villages, exacerbating the distress of already traumatized civilians.

Thousands of civilians displaced

These multiple hotspots of violence have forced thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safer areas. Humanitarian organizations are warning of a growing humanitarian crisis, marked by a lack of shelter, food, and access to medical care.

The situation remains extremely volatile in eastern DRC, where fighting is escalating despite calls for de-escalation, leaving civilians trapped in a state of constant insecurity.

Diplomatic tensions and prospects for dialogue

Faced with the escalating violence, a meeting is scheduled for December 4 in Washington between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi (DRC) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda), as part of regional peace efforts. At a press conference held Thursday, November 27, in Kigali, Mr. Kagame stated that “a possible meeting in Washington with Tshisekedi and Trump would be a good thing,” emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation for stabilizing eastern DRC.