FARDC Recaptures Katoyi After Fierce Clashes with AFC/M23

Masisi, December 26, 2025 - The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) recaptured Katoyi, the main town in the sector of the same name in Masisi territory, on Monday after fierce fighting on Sunday against AFC/M23 rebels.

The rebels had controlled the center of Katoyi since mid-November 2025, allowing them to increase pressure on neighboring areas, notably Oufamandu, Matanda, and Nyamaboko, in the south of the territory.

According to local security sources, the FARDC and Wazalendo fighters from the PARECO movement were expected to reoccupy Katoyi around noon on Sunday. These sources also indicated that, in addition to the town center, at least four strategic positions had been retaken: Mitimingi, Kahundu, Kasheke, and Kakoka.

The fighting, which began very early in the morning around 4:00 a.m., gradually subsided in the evening, according to the same sources.

Local civil society reports that the situation remains unstable in and around Katoyi. In addition to losses suffered by both sides, military sources indicate that at least 28 AFC/M23 fighters have been captured and 12 weapons have been recovered from the rebel side.

This violence has caused further population displacement: several hundred residents have reportedly sought refuge in neighboring villages, while others remain hidden in the bush, according to civil society actors.