FARDC Recaptures Kazinga After Two Weeks of Rebel Occupation

Masisi March 10, 2026 - The strategic town of Kazinga, located in the Osso Banyungu sector of Masisi Territory, has returned to the control of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) following a military offensive conducted on Monday, March 9. According to local sources, the town had been under AFC/M23 rebel occupation for nearly two weeks before being retaken by government forces, supported by the Wazalendo militia, in a coordinated operation aimed at reasserting state authority in the area. The offensive triggered intense fighting, with both heavy and light weapons used throughout the day. By evening, however, the situation had stabilized, and a relative calm returned to the town. The clashes forced many civilians to flee into surrounding bush areas, where they are now facing dire humanitarian conditions, including lack of shelter, food, and access to basic services. The recapture of Kazinga follows recent rebel withdrawals from nearby localities, including Buabo and Ndete, signaling a possible shift in territorial dynamics in parts of North Kivu. Regarded as a strategic position within the Osso Banyungu sector, Kazinga’s return to government control strengthens the military foothold of loyalist forces and reinforces their presence in this volatile region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.