Sud-Kivu: armed factions claim control of Point Zéro amid escalating violence

Minembwe, July 6, 2026 — The armed groups Twirwaneho and the M23 within the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC-M23) coalition assert they have captured Point Zéro, a critical military outpost in the Itombwe highlands, Mwenga territory, South Kivu. The position, they claim, served as a key stronghold for the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), Burundian Defense Forces (FDNB), and Wazalendo militias, all backed by Kinshasa. No official response has been issued at this time.

In a statement attributed to Fidèle Rugabo, military spokesperson for Twirwaneho, the groups state they launched an offensive on July 4, securing the base after prolonged clashes. “Point Zéro is now under our control,” the communiqué declares, alleging that FARDC, FDNB troops, and allied Wazalendo fighters withdrew from their positions.

Local testimonies report intense fighting along key routes connecting Mikenge, Kalongi, and Rubemba, while residents in Minembwe cautiously await a potential lull in violence that has gripped the region for months. “For years, we’ve endured near-constant clashes. If this position has truly fallen, perhaps the area will see fewer attacks,” shared a local resident who requested anonymity.

The fall of Point Zéro follows the reported abandonment of multiple strategic sites, including Mikenge, Kalongi, Rubemba, and Kakenge, as FARDC and FDNB forces allegedly retreated toward Mutambala, Mukera, and the neighboring Fizi territory. These claims remain unverified by independent observers.

Why Point Zéro matters in South Kivu’s conflict

Nestled in the Itombwe massif, Point Zéro commands critical access routes linking Minembwe, Mikenge, Mwenga, and Fizi. The area has become a flashpoint for recurring clashes between government-aligned forces and armed factions vying for territorial dominance in South Kivu’s highlands.

Since the M23/AFC-M23 withdrawal from Uvira in January 2026, violence in the highlands has surged, drawing in FARDC, Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias, and Twirwaneho fighters under the AFC-M23 umbrella.

Burundi’s military presence under bilateral agreement

The deployment of Burundian troops in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stems from a bilateral security cooperation pact between Gitega and Kinshasa. Both governments have repeatedly acknowledged the agreement, which permits FDNB operations on Congolese soil.

Data from the Congolese Ministry of Interior indicates over 29,000 Burundian soldiers were deployed in eastern DRC between August 2022 and December 2025. Initially tasked with combating Burundian armed groups like RED-Tabara, the FDNB now participates in joint operations with FARDC against multiple armed factions active in the region.

Recent months have seen troop movements across Mwenga, Fizi, and Uvira territories, coinciding with a spike in hostilities between government forces and insurgent groups.

Regional tensions fuel ongoing instability

The conflict in eastern DRC remains deeply entangled in regional rivalries. Kinshasa frequently accuses Kigali of backing the M23/AFC-M23, a claim Rwanda denies. Conversely, Rwanda alleges Congolese authorities collaborate with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group composed largely of former Hutu extremists linked to the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

Burundi has also accused Rwanda of supporting hostile armed factions in eastern DRC, while Kigali criticizes Bujumbura’s cooperation with FDLR and other regional militant groups.

Diplomatic efforts fail to curb ground-level violence

The latest seizure occurs amid high-stakes diplomatic maneuvers. A June 27, 2026 agreement brokered in Washington between DRC and Rwanda, with U.S. mediation, aimed to de-escalate tensions and formalize military disengagement. Yet, fighting persists, particularly in South Kivu’s highlands—a persistent epicenter of instability in the Great Lakes region.

Local grievances, ethnic divisions, and geopolitical rivalries continue to fuel a complex, enduring conflict. As of publication, neither FARDC, FDNB, nor Burundian authorities have publicly addressed the armed groups’ claims.