Fresh fighting has intensified once again in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where AFC/M23 fighters continue to battle coalition forces aligned with Kinshasa, including FARDC, Wazalendo militias, FDLR elements, and Burundian troops across North and South Kivu.
Heavy clashes erupted on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Masisi Territory around the strategic axis of Gasake, Kinigi, and Kaniro, where both sides engaged in fierce combat throughout the day.
According to local civil society sources and regional conflict monitors, AFC/M23 fighters had regained control of Gasake, Kinigi, and Kaniro by Thursday evening, despite earlier claims by FARDC that government forces had secured the area.
The renewed violence came only days after a brief period of relative calm, prompting thousands of civilians who had started returning home to flee once again.
Meanwhile, reports from Katoyi indicate that FARDC and its allied Wazalendo fighters managed to capture Katoyi center along with nearby villages including Luke and Kasenyi.
Residents in the affected areas described hearing continuous gunfire from both heavy and light weapons for several hours, triggering panic among civilians who fled toward forests and safer villages.
Local witnesses near Kinigi said displacement is rapidly worsening as families continue abandoning their homes without knowing where to seek protection, while infrastructure destroyed by years of war remains in ruins.
The latest escalation comes as security challenges in eastern Congo continue to deepen, especially as AFC/M23 expands its operational reach and increasingly relies on modern warfare technology, including armed drones.
In a separate development that sparked widespread reactions online, AFC/M23 drone strikes reportedly inflicted significant losses on coalition forces in Minembwe, particularly around Mikenke in South Kivu’s Mwenga Territory.
Videos circulating on social media showed numerous soldiers lying on the ground following the strikes, while several buildings appeared heavily damaged by the drone attacks.
The footage, reportedly recorded by FARDC soldiers themselves after the strikes, highlighted the growing intensity of the conflict and the increasingly important role drones are playing in reshaping warfare in eastern Congo.
Mikenke, Gakenke, Kalingi, and several surrounding areas in Minembwe have recently become hotspots of drone warfare, with each side accusing the other of endangering civilians.
Following the attacks, FARDC released a statement condemning what it described as “drone strikes carried out by the RDF/AFC-M23 coalition” in South Kivu.
The Congolese army stated that the attacks were “continuing to destabilize security and place civilians at risk,” while also insisting that military operations aimed at recapturing AFC/M23-controlled territories would continue.
Although both sides claim battlefield victories, civilians remain the primary victims of the prolonged conflict. Thousands continue to flee their homes, many losing property and access to essential services as schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities remain disrupted in conflict-hit regions.
Security analysts warn that the increasing use of drones could further escalate the conflict and raise the risk to civilians, particularly in densely populated communities.
As fighting intensifies in both Masisi and Minembwe, civilians and the international community continue watching closely for any diplomatic breakthrough capable of ending the violence that has plagued eastern Congo for years.
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