AFC/M23 Rebels Withdraw from Buhaya Near Pinga

February 13, 2026 - AFC/M23 fighters withdrew overnight on Thursday, February 12, from the Buhaya position, a strategic hill overlooking Katobi in the Banakindi area, approximately 15 kilometers from Pinga in the Kisimba group, Walikale territory, North Kivu. The rebels had occupied Buhaya Hill since November 2025, after dislodging Wazalendo forces. The reason for the sudden withdrawal remains unknown, and no information is available about the fighters’ destination, according to the administrative secretary of Kisimba group, who confirmed the departure. Residents of Katobi reported discovering on Friday morning that Buhaya Hill had been abandoned. Later in the day, Wazalendo forces regained control of the position, which they had lost three months earlier. The withdrawal occurs amid a continuing unstable security situation in Walikale, where the movements of armed groups continue to fuel fear and uncertainty among the civilian population.