Fresh fighting has intensified in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after AFC/M23 fighters reportedly regained control of more than ten areas in Masisi Territory on Tuesday, May 26, while also launching a major strike on Kisangani airport that damaged key military infrastructure, including a D-4 air defense system.
Sources from the conflict zone say AFC/M23 forces overpowered the coalition fighting alongside the Kinshasa government, including FARDC, FDLR and Wazalendo fighters, reclaiming several positions that had recently fallen under government-aligned control.
The recaptured areas include Gasenyi, Bukinanyana, Bushiha, Bukumbiriri, Nkokwe, Runigi, Karunga, Nyakigano, Miruta, Musheberi and Kavuta in North Kivu’s Masisi Territory.
The latest battlefield developments come only days after government forces and allied militias had advanced in some of those zones and moved closer to Rubaya, an area considered strategically important because of its rich mineral resources.
Security analysts believe AFC/M23’s renewed advance could significantly reshape the military balance in Masisi, particularly in regions viewed as economically and militarily sensitive.
Reports from North Kivu indicate that heavy clashes erupted early Tuesday morning, with both sides using heavy weapons in attempts to control strategic roads and positions across the territory.
At the same time, AFC/M23 carried out a major attack targeting Kisangani airport, which has long been described as a key operational center for aerial military missions conducted against territories under the movement’s control.
Information obtained by BWIZA indicates that the strike severely damaged a D-4 air defense system deployed at the airport.
Images circulating after the attack showed the defense system heavily destroyed, fueling debate over the effectiveness and vulnerability of the Congolese military’s aerial defense operations in the eastern region.
For months, Kisangani airport has reportedly served as a hub for drone missions and combat aircraft operations targeting areas such as Minembwe, Masisi, Rubaya and Rumangabo in both North and South Kivu provinces.
Additional reports have suggested that military specialists responsible for drone operations and aerial strike coordination had been operating from the airport with support from foreign military advisers and allied forces assisting FARDC.
AFC/M23 has repeatedly accused the Congolese government coalition of using drones in attacks that have allegedly resulted in civilian casualties, particularly near frontline communities.
Kisangani remains one of the most strategically important military locations in eastern Congo because its airport is used to transport troops, military equipment and coordinate aerial operations across the region.
The escalation of fighting between AFC/M23 and the FARDC-led coalition continues to raise concerns among civilians in North and South Kivu as rival forces battle for control over territories considered vital for both military influence and economic interests.
