FARDC, Allies Recapture Point Zero from Twirwaneho in South Kivu

South Kivu, January 30, 2026 - The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), alongside Burundian forces and Wazalendo fighters, have recaptured Point Zero from the MRDP-Twirwaneho group following intense fighting supported by drone strikes. The area had been seized by Twirwaneho on January 17, 2026. Its recapture is considered a major victory, as government forces had been preparing operations in zones inhabited by the Banyamulenge community in the Minembwe commune. According to reports, in the early hours of January 29, FARDC forces - reportedly accompanied by FDLR fighters and mercenaries - deployed large numbers of troops and heavy weapons to retake the strategic position. “They were supported in the air by six drones, in groups of three,” said Moïse Nyarugabo, a politician from Minembwe. “When one group of three drones was shot down, the other returned and bombed the compound. These drones fired 34 bombs in one day.” Following the operation, Twirwaneho fighters were forced to withdraw from Point Zero and Bikyaka, retreating toward the Tuwetuwe area. The fighting triggered the displacement of thousands of residents, many of whom had previously fled to the area when Twirwaneho first captured it. The recapture of Point Zero has restored freedom of movement along key routes in Fizi Territory, including access to Baraka and areas leading to Uvira, where the location serves as a critical crossroads.