AFC/M23 Reoccupy Kateku and Kanune After Brief Withdrawal

Walikale, North Kivu March 30, 2026 - AFC/M23 fighters have returned to the villages of Kateku and Kanune on Saturday, March 28, just two days after withdrawing from the area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The villages, located in the Ikobo group of Walikale Territory in North Kivu Province, had experienced a temporary absence of armed presence following recent movements linked to clashes with Wazalendo forces. The fighters reportedly re-entered Kanune with logistical supplies after passing through Miriki in neighboring Lubero Territory. At the same time, those who had previously left Kateku are said to have returned from Buleusa, where they had repositioned after pressure from Wazalendo elements. Wazalendo forces had briefly occupied Kateku but withdrew without reported fighting. In Kanune, no armed group had maintained control following the rebels’ pullback on March 26, leaving the area temporarily unoccupied. The renewed deployment has increased uncertainty among residents, many of whom were preparing to return home after weeks of displacement. Fear of renewed clashes between AFC/M23 and Wazalendo forces remains high across the region. The reasons for this rapid repositioning remain unclear, fueling concern among local observers who warn of a possible escalation of violence in an already unstable part of eastern Congo.