On Sunday, May 18, 2025, heavy fighting broke out in Walikale territory, North Kivu Province, between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group. The government forces were supported by FDLR fighters, Burundian soldiers, and local militias known as Wazalendo.
Lieutenant General Pacifique Masunzu, one of the top FARDC commanders, personally came to the frontline to lead the battle. He had traveled from Kisangani, where he commands the army’s Third Military Zone. His goal was to motivate the troops and strengthen their fight against M23.
However, despite his presence, the army suffered a major defeat. M23 forces pushed the government troops out of several areas, including the town of Buleusa and its surroundings. According to reports from the area, M23 overpowered Masunzu’s forces and took control of key positions.
This was not the first time Gen. Masunzu came to the battlefield only to see his forces lose. In February 2025, he went to Bukavu to support his troops, but they were also defeated by M23. The rebels even entered the city before Masunzu returned to Kisangani after briefly escaping to Uvira.
Gen. Masunzu has been in charge of the Third Military Zone since late 2024, after leading the Second Zone based in Lubumbashi. His recent setbacks raise questions about the effectiveness of the FARDC leadership on the ground.
Meanwhile, the fighting in Walikale continues, and reports say M23 is now moving toward an important military base in the region — a base they had once occupied before withdrawing during earlier peace talks.
These events are happening at the same time as peace talks are being held in Washington, D.C., involving Rwanda and DR Congo. The goal is to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Eastern Congo and improve relations between the two countries.
There is also a ceasefire agreement that was signed in Doha, Qatar, but the ongoing battles show that the fighting is not stopping.
