AFC/M23 Withdraws from Buabo and Ndete, Wazalendo Reoccupy Villages

MASISI March 6, 2026 - AFC/M23 rebels have withdrawn without engaging in clashes from the villages of Buabo and Ndete in the Osso Banyungu sector of Masisi territory, North Kivu. Local sources reported the rebels’ absence early Thursday morning, March 5, after several days of occupation following previous fighting with the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) and their Wazalendo allies. Following the withdrawal, the Wazalendo forces reoccupied Buabo and Ndete on the morning of Friday, March 6, according to security sources. The reasons behind the rebels’ departure remain unclear, though some observers suggest that military pressure and encirclement strategies by government forces may have influenced the decision. The security situation in Masisi territory remains volatile, with continued troop movements and sporadic clashes reported in surrounding villages. These ongoing hostilities are causing further civilian displacement, aggravating the already fragile humanitarian conditions in the region.