The conflict in Minembwe, located in South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has entered a new phase after AFC/M23 announced that the P5 coalition, whose military wing is led by former Rwandan army chief Kayumba Nyamwasa, is now actively participating in military operations in the area.
The announcement was made on June 25, 2026, by AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, who accused the government in Kinshasa of expanding its military alliance by incorporating additional armed groups into ongoing operations in eastern Congo.
According to Kanyuka, P5 has joined a coalition that already includes the Congolese army (FARDC), the FDLR, Wazalendo fighters, foreign mercenaries, and Burundian military forces.
He stated: “The Kinshasa government continues to expand its military coalition. Kinshasa has added fighters from the P5 movement led by Kayumba Nyamwasa to FARDC, FDLR, Wazalendo, foreign mercenaries and Burundian forces (FDNB).”
AFC/M23 further alleged that the newly expanded alliance launched an attack on Minembwe General Hospital on the afternoon of June 25, marking the second strike against the facility within a 24-hour period. The movement claimed that several civilians were killed and significant damage was inflicted on civilian infrastructure.
The group also reiterated its commitment to defending residents of Minembwe and neighboring communities, saying it would continue efforts to protect civilians and prevent displacement and intimidation.
The reported return of P5 to active operations in South Kivu has attracted considerable attention because the movement had largely disappeared from regional security discussions in recent years.
P5 was formed as a coalition of Rwandan opposition organizations, including RNC, FDU-Inkingi, PDP-Imanzi and RUD-Urunana. Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former senior military commander in Rwanda, has long been regarded as one of its most influential military figures.
The coalition previously operated in eastern Congo, where it was accused of preparing and coordinating activities aimed at destabilizing Rwanda. However, its influence declined significantly after the arrest of retired Major Habib Mudathiru in 2019.
Mudathiru, who oversaw military operations and recruitment efforts for the coalition, was arrested in the DRC and later transferred to Rwanda, a development widely viewed as a major setback for P5.
The movement faded from public attention after 2019, particularly following operations linked to RUD-Urunana fighters in northern Rwanda. For several years, little was heard about P5, leading many observers to believe that it had become inactive.
That perception began to change in 2025 when reports emerged suggesting that some P5 fighters had returned to South Kivu.
In November 2025, Alexis Mugisha Nkurunziza, Vice President of MDRP-Twirwaneho for politics, governance and diplomacy, claimed that P5 fighters had re-entered the region with the intention of working alongside Congolese authorities.
At the time, he stated: “Information from reliable sources monitored on a daily basis indicates that P5 forces are not extremely large in number, but they are significant enough to cause harm. They are stationed in mountainous areas, some wearing Burundian military uniforms while others are being trained in Burundi.”
He also alleged that some fighters had already reached the Bijombo area of South Kivu while others remained in Burundi undergoing training and preparation.
Security analysts say the reported return of P5 could further complicate an already crowded battlefield in eastern Congo, where numerous armed groups continue to operate.
Today, several organizations opposed to Rwanda, including FDLR, P5, CNRD-FLN and RUD-Urunana, are reported to be active in parts of the DRC and Burundi. Rwandan authorities have repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of such groups, citing potential threats to border security and regional stability.
