South Kivu : deadly clashes between Wazalendo factions, eastern Congo on the brink of implosion

SOS Médias Burundi

Bukavu, October 30, 2025 – The Fizi territory in South Kivu province, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been rocked for a week by violent clashes between two factions of the Wazalendo movement : one led by General William Yakutumba, the other by General Ngomanzito.

According to several local sources, these clashes are linked to the management of tollbooths erected on the territory’s roads, particularly around Misisi, in the Ngandja sector. Preliminary reports indicate at least four deaths, numerous injuries, significant material damage, and massive population displacements.

“Activities are completely paralyzed. We are living in fear.” “We are asking the government to intervene before this crisis escalates into ethnic conflict,” said a resident of Misisi contacted by telephone.

The chief of the Fizi territory, Sammy Kalonji, confirmed the loss of life, while calling on the two commanders to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to restore calm to the region.

Internal tensions weaken the movement

In a statement released Tuesday, the Fulero youth of the Fizi territory denounced the violence targeting their communities.

“The Fulero people’s property has been looted, their cattle stolen, and several of our citizens abducted,” the statement says.

Several provincial deputies and community leaders are calling on Generals Yakutumba and Ngomanzito to immediately cease hostilities. They reiterate that the Wazalendo movement’s priority should remain the fight against foreign armed groups.

Security sources confirm that the rivalry between the two factions is fueled by control of mining routes and revenues derived from the illegal taxation of commercial products.

Expanding fighting and risk of regional contagion

Tensions are now spreading beyond the Fizi territory. On October 30, 2025, new clashes erupted in Runingu, in the Ruzizi Plain, this time pitting General Makanika’s fighters against those of General Nyerere, also members of the Wazalendo movement.
Observers fear a rapid deterioration of the security situation throughout South Kivu if these internal disputes are not brought under control.

Before adopting the name Wazalendo—local militias now supported by Kinshasa—these armed groups were known as Mai-Mai. Approached by the Congolese government to help it fight the M23, they became allies of convenience for the regular army. But these fragile alliances are now turning into violent rivalries.

The M23, a former Tutsi rebel movement that resumed hostilities in late 2021, accuses Congolese authorities of failing to honor their commitments to reintegration. The group, affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC), now controls several strategic areas in the mineral-rich provinces of North and South Kivu.

The Kinshasa government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels—a claim Kigali categorically denies.

“The state has lost control,” warns Onésphore Sematumba

In an exclusive interview with SOS Médias Burundi, Onésphore Sematumba, senior analyst for the Great Lakes region at the International Crisis Group, paints an alarming picture.

“The Congolese army has long since shown its limitations. These groups have established themselves as more powerful and better organized than the official forces,” he explains.

According to him, numerous militias operating in eastern Congo have been armed, tolerated, or legitimized by the state. They control entire areas, roads, schools, and even some public services. In several localities, such as Wazalindou, they impose their own law on the population and prevent Burundian refugees from entering the country.

Compromised sovereignty and foreign influence

For Sematumba, the presence of foreign troops—Rwandans, Burundians, or Ugandans—has only exacerbated the crisis.

“These forces are not here for the good of the Congolese people. They serve foreign interests and weaken the security of the population,” he warns.

He believes that the Congolese government has delegated its own security to militias, creating “a monster it can no longer control,” with terrible consequences for civilians.

A warning to the region and the international community

“Continuing to observe without acting is tantamount to failing to assist people in danger. We no longer have any excuse to remain passive in the face of this situation,” insists the Crisis Group expert.

He calls on the Congolese authorities, neighboring countries, and the international community to take urgent measures to restore state authority, protect the population, and curb foreign interference.

“A small spark could ignite a major conflict throughout the region. Urgent action is needed.

In a context where military alliances are shifting and borders remain porous, the eastern DRC is spiraling into violence. The fighting between Wazalendo in Fizi is no longer a simple local dispute : it symbolizes the gradual collapse of the Congolese state in the face of the proliferation of weapons, mining interests, and foreign influence.”