AFC/M23 Takes Control of Tushunguti, Biriko Under Threat

South Kivu, April 8, 2026 - AFC/M23 rebels have taken control of the town of Tushunguti in Kalehe territory after intense clashes with local Wazalendo fighters, marking a further deterioration of the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The fighting, which occurred on April 7 in the Ziralo area of South Kivu, forced self-defense groups to retreat, allowing the rebels to seize the town, considered a strategic location near the border with North Kivu. Local sources report that the fall of Tushunguti now places the town of Biriko, in Walikale territory, under direct threat. The area is regarded as particularly sensitive due to its proximity to recent conflict zones. The escalation has triggered new waves of displacement, with hundreds of households fleeing toward safer areas. This movement adds to an already severe humanitarian crisis affecting the region. No official casualty figures have been released at this stage. However, sources on the ground describe a rapidly worsening situation, with urgent needs for both security intervention and humanitarian assistance. Residents, already affected by years of conflict, remain in a state of heightened fear as uncertainty persists over further advances and the broader trajectory of the violence.