Fresh fighting has intensified in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where battles between the Congolese army (FARDC), backed by Wazalendo fighters, and AFC/M23 rebels continue to destabilize parts of North Kivu Province and trigger new waves of civilian displacement.
On Thursday morning, May 21, 2026, FARDC and allied Wazalendo fighters reportedly captured the small town of Kinigi, located in Katoy sector of Masisi Territory, after intense combat with AFC/M23 combatants.
Military sources in the area told ACTUALITE.CD that the offensive began on Wednesday evening when Congolese government troops and Wazalendo fighters launched an attack on AFC/M23 positions in Kinigi.
Witnesses described hours of heavy gunfire and exchanges involving both light and heavy weapons before government forces claimed control of the area.
The number of casualties from the clashes has not yet been confirmed, but local sources say both sides may have suffered significant losses during the confrontation.
Reports from residents and regional observers indicate that AFC/M23 fighters later pulled back toward Rubaya, a strategic area known for its mining activities and military importance in Masisi Territory.
However, the situation remained volatile. On Friday, May 22, 2026, heavy fighting erupted again between FARDC, Wazalendo forces, and AFC/M23 positions in several parts of Masisi.
According to information obtained by Kivu Morning Post, clashes were reported in Chugi and along the Kinigi axis, particularly on hills overlooking Kinigi and Kavuta in Kibabi groupement, roughly 30 kilometers from Rubaya.
Additional confrontations were also reported along the Gashovu-Mahiga-Nzingati-Mayuwano axis, where residents said sustained gunfire and explosions from heavy weapons spread fear across surrounding communities.
The renewed violence has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, with many families seeking refuge in nearby villages and remote hillsides believed to be safer.
Displaced residents say humanitarian conditions are rapidly deteriorating, as many people lack food, clean water, shelter, and access to medical care.
Humanitarian concerns are growing as repeated waves of fighting continue to uproot civilians in a region that has endured years of armed conflict and instability.
Analysts warn that continued clashes near Rubaya could have wider security and economic consequences due to the area’s strategic mining resources and its importance to transportation routes across Masisi Territory.
With military operations still ongoing and no ceasefire announced, civilians remain caught in the middle of a worsening conflict that continues to destroy livelihoods and separate families across eastern Congo.
