FARDC and VDP Report Repelling AFC/M23 Assault Near Nkingwe as Civilians Flee Fighting

Masisi, July 13, 2026 - Heavy fighting broke out early Sunday morning in the Bashali Mokoto area of Masisi territory, North Kivu, after an attack attributed to AFC/M23 forces against positions held jointly by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). The clashes began around 6:00 a.m. near Nkingwe, a strategic position located close to the village of Malemo. According to local and security sources, AFC/M23 fighters launched an offensive aimed at taking control of the area. After several hours of exchanges of fire, FARDC and VDP forces said they had resisted the attack and forced the rebels to withdraw from some positions. Local sources reported that two AFC/M23 defensive positions were abandoned during the fighting. The provisional assessment provided by local security actors mentions the recovery of military equipment, including a PKM machine gun and four AK-47 rifles. Two individuals suspected of belonging to AFC/M23 were also reportedly captured and transferred to Pinga. The clashes triggered renewed population movements in the area. Residents of Nkingwe and Malemo, fearing further violence, fled their homes and sought refuge in Kalembe. Despite the reported withdrawal of AFC/M23 elements from certain positions, the security situation remains fragile. Local sources indicate that Malemo is still divided, with some areas under the control of FARDC and VDP forces while others remain influenced by AFC/M23 fighters. The situation continues to raise fears of renewed confrontations in this part of Masisi territory, where repeated clashes between armed groups and government forces have intensified insecurity among civilian communities.