Minembwe: M23/Twirwaneho claims victory, accusing FARDC coalition of retreat after week-long battles

Minembwe, June 19, 2026—For nearly a week, intense fighting engulfed the highlands of Fizi and Mwenga territories in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. The clashes pitted Twirwaneho combatants, allied with the AFC-M23 politico-military coalition, against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), supported by the National Defence Force of Burundi (FDNB) and Kinshasa-backed Wazalendo militias.

Following the prolonged engagements, Twirwaneho/M23 fighters asserted they had successfully pushed back the government coalition from several strategic positions surrounding Minembwe. Local and military sources corroborated these claims, indicating a clear withdrawal of the forces involved.

According to accounts from residents, the intensity of the fighting peaked during the week, characterized by the deployment of heavy weaponry, drones, and persistent bombardments. Subsequently, the FARDC, FDNB, and their allies reportedly retreated towards the localities of Lwiko, Mutunda, and Miko, leaving various peripheral areas of Minembwe under the control of the Twirwaneho/M23 combatants.

Civilians who fled the violence towards Kiziba described scenes of widespread panic and massive population displacement. Numerous testimonies highlighted bombardments impacting residential zones, although an independent assessment of casualties remains unconfirmed.

While the FARDC had not issued a detailed statement at the time of this report, local military contacts confirmed a strategic repositioning of their forces following particularly fierce clashes in the Ilundu and Bidegu sectors.

Unverified intelligence from the conflict zone further suggested that Burundian FDNB personnel might have abandoned equipment during their withdrawal towards Kakenge (Miko). Reports of human losses among the FARDC, FDNB, and Wazalendo ranks have emerged, though no official casualty figures have been released.

Victory claims and declarations

From the Twirwaneho/M23 side, a resounding tone of military triumph prevailed. They declared having repelled governmental forces and their allies beyond multiple front lines, thereby solidifying their command over positions around Minembwe.

Moïse Nyarugabo, a former Congolese national deputy, lauded what he termed the “retreat of forces engaged against Minembwe.”

“The threat to Minembwe has been averted. Despite Sukhoy bombardments, drone attacks, and heavy artillery, the opposing forces were pushed back beyond the Lwiko river,” he affirmed.

Nyarugabo further suggested that military operations initiated months ago had failed to establish lasting security in the consistently volatile highlands.

He also leveled accusations against the coalition, holding them responsible for bombardments that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties and massive population displacements.

Controversies surrounding FDNB presence

The involvement of the National Defence Force of Burundi (FDNB) alongside the FARDC continues to fuel regional controversies.

Certain security sources alleged that Kinshasa might have offered Gitega mining concessions in the Minembwe area and other parts of Fizi territory in exchange for military assistance. These claims, however, remain unconfirmed by either Congolese or Burundian authorities.

Nevertheless, Presidents Évariste Ndayishimiye and Félix Tshisekedi have publicly acknowledged a bilateral security cooperation agreement that permits the deployment of Burundian forces 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.

Amidst heightened security tensions, the Burundian army recently undertook new redeployments in the region. This follows the withdrawal of AFC-M23 rebels from the strategic city of Uvira, situated near Goma and crucial routes connecting eastern Congo to Burundi. Uvira had been under rebel occupation for approximately one month between December 2025 and January 2026 before their retreat.

More recently, local sources also reported that elements of the AFC-M23 had pulled back from certain positions in the Rusizi plain, reportedly under international pressure, particularly from the United States and other partners actively involved in regional de-escalation efforts.

AFC-M23 and Twirwaneho at the heart of the conflict

The March 23 Movement (M23) currently stands as a primary component of the politico-military coalition known as the Alliance Fleuve Congo–M23 (AFC-M23). This formidable alliance is led by Corneille Nangaa, the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the demanding highlands of South Kivu, this coalition significantly relies on the Twirwaneho armed movement, which primarily consists of young individuals from the Banyamulenge community.

Congolese authorities frequently accuse Rwanda of providing support to the AFC-M23 and its allies, allegations that Kigali consistently refutes. In turn, Rwanda accuses Kinshasa of collaborating with the FDLR, an armed group comprising former Hutu officials implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

Burundi also accuses Rwanda of backing armed groups operating against its territory and harboring ambitions for influence in eastern DRC. Kigali, in its defense, rejects these accusations and, in turn, reproaches Gitega for collaborating with the FDLR and other armed factions active in the region.

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

A region perpetually unstable

Despite numerous regional agreements and diplomatic overtures aimed at alleviating the crisis in eastern DRC, ground clashes persist, offering no immediate prospects for lasting de-escalation.

Consequently, the Fizi highlands remain one of the most volatile hotspots in the Great Lakes region, where intricate local rivalries are inextricably linked with the broader tensions between Kigali, Kinshasa, and Gitega.

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Photo d’archives: Local militiamen engaging M23 in Bashali, while various armed groups clash in Minembwe amidst high tensions in eastern DR Congo.