AFC/M23 Launches Counter-Offensive in Kasenyi to Halt Government Advance Toward Rubaya

MASISI, North Kivu February 25, 2026 - Fighting intensified on Wednesday, February 25, in the village of Kasenyi, located in the Kibabi group of Masisi territory, as AFC/M23 rebels launched a counter-offensive against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their Wazalendo allies. The government forces had seized Kasenyi last Sunday following several hours of clashes. Local sources report that rebels redeployed to Kasenyi with reinforcements in men and ammunition, aiming to retake the village and halt the advance of pro-government forces toward the mining town of Rubaya, a strategic rebel stronghold in the region. Kasenyi is a key crossing point on the road leading to Rubaya, making its control crucial for both sides. Since midday, heavy and light weapons fire has been reported in and around Kasenyi, causing renewed panic among civilians. Several families have fled their homes, abandoning belongings and seeking safer areas, while the humanitarian situation in Masisi territory, already precarious, faces further strain. In nearby Rubaya, tensions remain high following FARDC airstrikes that destroyed a rebel position in Kishusha, further exacerbating insecurity. Many residents have reportedly fled Rubaya over fears of reprisals or intensified fighting in the coming days. The ongoing clashes in Kasenyi reflect the volatile security landscape in Masisi territory, where multi-front fighting between AFC/M23 rebels, government forces, and allied militias continues to displace civilians and disrupt humanitarian operations.