2025 sees AFC/M23 control territory larger than Rwanda #rwanda #RwOT

The conflict intensified in January 2025, as AFC/M23 fighters advanced from the mountainous areas surrounding the city of Sake in Masisi Territory. By mid-January, they captured the city and successfully blocked key supply routes used by the DRC army for transporting weapons.

On January 20, Burundian troops were stationed in Minova, in the Kalehe Territory, tasked with preventing the AFC/M23 coalition from entering Goma. However, by January 21, AFC/M23 had already withdrawn from the area, setting their sights on Goma, which soon became the focal point of their offensive.

In response, the DRC army launched a series of heavy counterattacks in an attempt to push AFC/M23 fighters out of Sake and back into the Masisi region, specifically targeting the Mushaki area. However, AFC/M23 fighters held their ground and managed to push DRC forces towards the outskirts of Goma.

Tragically, during the fighting on January 24, General Maj Peter Cirimwami, the Governor of North Kivu, was killed in Kasangezi while visiting DRC troops engaged in the battle. He succumbed to his injuries while being transferred to Kinshasa for medical treatment.

Despite the setback, AFC/M23 fighters showed no signs of slowing down. The group's spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, issued a call for DRC forces to vacate Goma, warning that their arrival in the city was imminent, a warning that many initially dismissed as a joke.

On the morning of January 27, a fierce battle broke out in Goma, with the airport becoming a key battleground. By the end of the day, AFC/M23 had taken control of all major locations within the city. In their wake, DRC forces and local militias left behind a considerable amount of heavy weaponry, including Sukhoi-25 fighter jets.

Many DRC forces, alongside Burundian troops, local militias, and the FDLR, retreated to the southern Kivu region, attempting to halt AFC/M23's advance. Key infrastructure, including the Kavumu airport, which was used by the DRC to launch airstrikes on areas like Minova, became a target for AFC/M23.

On February 14, Kanyuka declared that AFC/M23 had successfully captured the town of Kavumu and its airport, which had been a significant source of conflict for both civilians and the coalition's military positions.

"We have neutralized the threat at its source," Kanyuka explained, emphasizing that the control of Kavumu and its surrounding areas was firmly in their hands.

With the capture of Kavumu, AFC/M23 extended their reach towards Bukavu, a journey of approximately 25 kilometers, which they completed on February 16.
Upon entering Bukavu, AFC/M23 fighters found that DRC forces had retreated to Uvira and Kalemie in Tanganyika Province. Meanwhile, Burundian forces, local militias, and the FDLR remained in close proximity, keeping an eye on the developments.

The security situation in Bukavu remained unstable, with some Wazalendo fighters still present in the Kamanyola center. In response, AFC/M23 launched an operation to remove these fighters from the center and the surrounding border areas, pushing them towards Uvira.

The conflict spread further into North Kivu, particularly in Walikale Territory. On March 19, AFC/M23 captured the city of Walikale and the small Kigoma airport, although they eventually withdrew in early April.

AFC/M23's decision to leave Walikale was part of an effort to build trust in peace negotiations, which had been facilitated by Qatar since March. Qatar had also called for the release of 700 individuals accused of collaborating with the group.

The peace talks, held in Doha, Qatar, helped to de-escalate the violence in eastern DRC, although occasional flare-ups occurred due to provocations by Wazalendo militias. When necessary, AFC/M23 responded with force to assert their control.

On June 29, 2025, AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa announced that the coalition now controlled over 34,000 square kilometers of territory, home to more than 11 million people. This area exceeded the size of Rwanda, which has a land area of 26,300 square kilometers and a population of just over 14 million.

Nangaa explained, "Today, AFC/M23 controls over 34,000 square kilometers of land, home to 11 million people. In just five months, our forces have restored security, established stability, and instilled a sense of hope among the local populations."

In November, heavy fighting erupted in Walungu Territory, where AFC/M23 captured the city of Nzibira on November 21. Later that month, the coalition also seized the Kamanyola center in Walungu, South Kivu, and the Buhimba center in Walikale after defeating the DRC army and local militias.

The situation took a dramatic turn shortly before Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace and economic cooperation agreement on December 4, 2025. Two days before the agreement, the Kamanyola center was shelled, and intense fighting erupted.

In the ongoing conflict in the Rusizi/Ruzizi Valley, AFC/M23 captured several strategic locations, including Katogota, Kaziba, Luberizi, Runingu, Sange, Luvungi, Kiliba, and the city of Uvira. However, at the request of international mediators, including the United States, AFC/M23 later withdrew from Uvira, marking the conclusion of the year's major military engagements.