Point-Zéro, a strategic area located in the High Plateaus of Fizi and Minembwe in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has once again become the center of intense military confrontations as reports indicate that Burundi has deployed additional troops and heavy military equipment to the region.
According to information from regional security sources and local media outlets, the deployment involves soldiers from the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) operating alongside the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and Wazalendo militias. The objective of the operation is reportedly to confront Twirwaneho fighters, who are largely composed of Banyamulenge youths, as well as the AFC/M23 coalition.
Military analysts describe Point-Zéro as one of the most strategically important positions in the High Plateaus because it provides access to several key routes linking Minembwe, Mikenge, Tuwe-Tuwe, and surrounding areas. Control of the location is therefore considered vital for any force seeking military dominance in the region.
Reports indicate that the Congolese government and Burundi have concentrated significant military resources in and around Point-Zéro, including heavy weaponry, combat aircraft, and surveillance drones. The operation was intended to push Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 forces away from the area and re-establish government control over Point-Zéro and neighboring positions.
The area has witnessed repeated shifts in control over recent months. At various stages, Burundian troops and FARDC forces reportedly succeeded in capturing the location through coordinated offensives supported by heavy artillery and aerial operations. However, the battlefield situation has remained highly fluid.
Recent reports emerging during the 2026 dry season suggest that Twirwaneho fighters, working alongside AFC/M23 forces, launched counteroffensives that forced Burundian and FARDC troops to retreat from some positions. Sources familiar with developments on the ground claim that Burundian forces suffered casualties and lost military equipment during these clashes, although official figures have not been publicly released.
The continuing battles have had serious consequences for civilians living throughout the High Plateaus. Humanitarian organizations and local information networks frequently report that the use of heavy weapons, airstrikes, and drone attacks has significantly affected local communities, particularly the Banyamulenge population residing in the region.
Many civilians have reportedly been displaced as fighting spreads across villages and grazing areas. Families have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations, while agricultural and livestock activities, the primary sources of livelihood for many residents, have been severely disrupted.
Observers note that Point-Zéro remains a crucial military objective for all parties involved in the conflict. As long as control of the area is viewed as essential to broader military operations in South Kivu, the likelihood of further confrontations remains high.
The renewed deployment of Burundian troops and military supplies underscores the growing importance of the battle for Point-Zéro. At the same time, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as civilians bear the burden of a conflict that shows little sign of ending.
While military operations intensify, many residents and community leaders continue to call for political dialogue and peaceful solutions, arguing that a negotiated settlement is the only sustainable path toward stability in the High Plateaus of Fizi and Minembwe after years of recurring violence and displacement.
