South Kivu : setback for the government coalition, several positions reportedly abandoned by M23 drones in Bijombo

SOS Médias Burundi

Uvira, October 12, 2026 — The Congolese government coalition has reportedly lost several positions in the Bijombo highlands of Uvira territory, South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following drone attacks attributed to rebels of the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23). Burundian soldiers, elements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), and Wazalendo militia, supported by Kinshasa, have reportedly abandoned several positions, according to information from Masango.

According to the same sources, the strikes targeted positions held by government forces and their allies, notably in Magunda, Rubarati, Masango, and Ruhuha. Following these attacks, several soldiers and fighters reportedly left their positions. Some are said to have headed towards the city of Uvira, located a few dozen kilometers from Bujumbura, Burundi’s called capital, where the main economic institutions, diplomatic missions, and several central government offices are concentrated. Others are said to have gone to the Malimba camp.

The spokesperson for the Twirwaneho movement, Fidèle Rugabo, confirmed that AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho fighters had retaken control of Rubarati and Ruhuha. At the time of writing, however, this information had not been independently verified.

Contested positions in the highlands

These developments come amid ongoing fighting for control of the Bijombo highlands, a strategic area in the Uvira territory of South Kivu, where Congolese government forces, their allies, and several armed groups are clashing.

The new troop movements reported in this region come just days after Burundian soldiers, the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo), and Wazalendo militias recaptured certain positions, notably in Magunda and Malimba. These positions were reportedly previously held by fighters from the Burundian rebel group RED-Tabara.

These operations followed clashes reported in the Masango region, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of seven Burundian soldiers.

The situation remains confused on the ground as various forces involved seek to consolidate their positions in this part of eastern Congo.

A government coalition against the AFC/M23

Burundian soldiers are engaged alongside the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) as part of military cooperation between Gitega and Kinshasa. The Wazalendo militia, which brings together various armed factions supporting the Congolese authorities against the AFC/M23, is also participating in operations alongside the Congolese army.

Facing this coalition, the AFC/M23, a Tutsi-dominated politico-military alliance, continues to gain ground, sometimes achieving spectacular advances. After seizing Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, in early 2025, the movement extended its control to several other strategic areas, including the Rubaya mining site, one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s main coltan deposits, a resource essential for manufacturing numerous electronic devices.

In the highlands of South Kivu, the AFC/M23 benefits in particular from the support of allied armed groups, including Twirwaneho, composed mainly of Banyamulenge fighters.

The presence of RED-Tabara adds a regional dimension to the conflict. This Burundian rebel group is accused by the authorities in Gitega of conducting operations against the Burundian government from the Congolese territory.

Burundian and Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels, an allegation that Kigali categorically rejects. For its part, Rwanda accuses Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan Hutu armed group, some of whose members are accused of participating in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

Territorial control to be confirmed

While the spokesperson for Twirwaneho asserts that Rubarati and Ruhuha have reverted to the control of his fighters and those of the AFC/M23, the exact extent of troop movements and the fate of other positions remain to be determined.

The available information also does not allow for a precise assessment of the casualties from the latest drone attacks, nor does it confirm the extent of the withdrawal of government forces and their allies.

The situation remains volatile in the Bijombo highlands of South Kivu, in eastern Congo, where clashes between the government coalition and the AFC/M23 could further alter the balance of power in this part of the country.