Residents Gripped by Fear Following Clashes Between FARDC and the "Wazarendo" Group Led by General Makanaki Kasimbira John

Gunfire is currently being heard at night in the city of Uvira, South Kivu Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to a local resident who spoke to me some few minutes back, fighting is taking place in Uvira between the Kinshasa government forces (FARDC) and the "Wazalendo " group, led by the man calling himself General Makanaki Kasimbira John.

Reports indicate that the Wazalendo  group is engaging the FARDC, sparking intense clashes in the area. This situation has caused great fear among Uvira residents; the sound of gunfire continuing into the night has left many feeling unsafe in their homes.

Falsefied war reports over some localities in south kivu

  Facts on the ground in recent days in the face of speculation, rumors, and disinformation:

1. In the town of Ngungu in the territory of Masisi, there has never been any panic, contrary to the false information that has been circulating intensely on social media for several days. This town remains under the control of the M23 rebels allied with Rwanda.

2. Likewise, the localities of

Kasake, kashovu,  in the depths of Ngungu remain under rebel control.

3. The town of Minova in the Kalehe territory in South Kivu province has never been attacked, much less threatened by the Wazalendo, contrary to the false information that has been and continues to circulate online. No Wazalendo position is in the area or nearby since January 2025.

M23 intensifies attacks to regain their recently captured positions in Masisi

Violent fighting between the AFC/M23 and government forces, supported by Wazalendo armed groups, continues this Tuesday, September 22 in several areas of Masisi territory, in North Kivu. According to civil and military sources contacted this morning in the region, clashes have been reported in particular on the Ngungu axis as well as in the Katoyi sector, where the Wazalendo have been trying for two days to regain control of Mitimingi.

Heavy and light weapons fire was heard Tuesday morning until 9 a.m. local time around Mitimingi hill, in the town of Kirambo, Katoyi sector.

Detonations were also reported in the surroundings of Miano and several villages near Remeka, in the Ufamandu 1st group, in the Bahunde chiefdom.

In Mitimingi, in the Ufamandu 2 group, Wazalendo fighters are trying, according to local sources, to regain this position. On the Remeka-Ngungu axis, a military source affirms, for its part, that elements of the AFC/M23 are increasing attacks against positions recently recaptured by government forces.

Several villages taken over last week

Last week, the Congolese army and Wazalendo armed groups announced that they had recaptured several villages on the Ngungu axis, after several days of fighting. These include Miko, Remeka, Kaleta and Kasake.

In the Katoyi sector, government forces also announced the recapture of Mutongo, Katoyi-Centre and Ngululu, as well as the recovery of military equipment abandoned by AFC/M23 fighters, according to military sources.

According to consistent sources in Masisi, the situation remains unstable in this part of Masisi territory, where both camps seek to consolidate their positions or retake lost localities. The continuation of fighting also affects civilian populations in the area.

 

Is Tanzania discreetly entering Minembwe to help FARDC

 

According to claims from different sources,and OSINT collections ,Tanzanian soldiers are said to have entered Burundi via the Kagunga border post in Tanzania before joining Nyanza-Lac.

On the ground, they reportedly changed their military uniforms to Burundian uniforms and were integrated into Burundian units.

According to information gathered by our Intelligence networks

, some of these troops were deployed to Luvungi, in the Ruzizi plain, Itara group, while another joined Rugombo, in the Cibitoke province, on the border between Burundi and Rwanda, on September 15.

Their mission is said to be to cut off the Kaziba–Minembwe axis, presented as a supply route for AFC/M23 elements to Minembwe, before launching an offensive towards Point Zéro and attempting to retake Minembwe, particularly on the Masango axis, in the Uvira territory. 

Other sources indicate that Tanzania has made such discreet deployments as stand by units in case Rwanda attempts to attack Burundi via its northern border.

Is M23 loosing the war!

 

Frontline situation this morning

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have been conducting targeted strikes and tactical maneuvers in South Kivu province for several days, according to Second Lieutenant Reagan Mbuyi, spokesperson for the Sukola 2 South operations. In Fizi territory (Lulenge sector), military command reports having regained control of the villages of Natulonge and Nagushushu following combat operations aimed at pinning down enemy positions along the Nyamiringa–Mukoko axis. The armed forces state their intention to continue advancing toward Kakenge. Meanwhile, in Uvira territory, the FARDC report territorial gains on the right flank of the Mitamba sector. Military command’s stated objective is to curtail the maneuverability of insurgent groups operating in the area and to open a strategic corridor toward Mulambia.

Reported clashes in Nyamilima of Rutshuru territory

In the territory of Rutshuru, intense fighting is reported in Nyamilima, all agricultural activities have been disrupted this Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The fierce attacks by wazalendo and FARDC against the positions of the M23 are raging, heavy and light artillery fire is being heard in this strategic locality.

The wazalendo are moving the fronts everywhere in the east of the country, in support of their loyal FARDC warriors they coordinate the strikes with sincerity and professionalism.

According to several sources inside the M23,they say that they are preparing a grand retariation to halt the advancement of the wazalendos.