Armed confrontations continue across Fizi Territory in South Kivu Province, with reports from local sources indicating that MRDP-Twirwaneho has strengthened its military presence and expanded the areas under its control following a series of clashes against the Congolese army (FARDC), Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias and FDLR fighters.
According to information from the area, the group has made significant advances in recent days, taking control of several locations that had previously been held by government forces.
Heavy fighting was reported throughout the past week around Minembwe and neighboring communities. Government forces are said to have deployed heavy weapons during the battles, but local accounts claim that MRDP-Twirwaneho managed to repel the coalition and push it back from several frontline positions.
The ongoing conflict continues to take a toll on civilians. While many residents have fled to areas they believe are safer, others have cautiously started returning to their homes where security conditions have temporarily improved.
Security observers monitoring developments in South Kivu say the latest battlefield changes could influence the balance of power in Fizi, an area considered strategically important because of its road network, commercial activity and administrative significance.
Sources from Minembwe indicate that MRDP-Twirwaneho currently maintains control over Minembwe as well as nearby locations including Mikenke, Point Zero and Rwitsankuku.
At the same time, reports suggest that members of the FARDC-led coalition have continued withdrawing toward Baraka, one of the Congolese government’s major military strongholds in Fizi Territory.
Additional reports indicate that government troops also left Kanguli, Nakiheli and nearby areas without engaging in fighting, a development that some observers believe may reflect a tactical redeployment rather than direct battlefield losses.
Military sources cited by local contacts further indicate that troops leaving those areas first regrouped in Bibogobogo before continuing toward Baraka. Bibogobogo is now reportedly hosting a large concentration of soldiers, many of whom are said to be members of the Burundian armed forces.
Analysts note that both sides remain focused on securing key transport corridors and strategic locations that could shape future military operations across South Kivu.
Although local reports portray MRDP-Twirwaneho as continuing to expand its territorial influence, the overall security situation remains fluid, with ongoing military movements and continued humanitarian concerns affecting civilians caught in the conflict.
