Fragile Calm Returns to Walikale After Two Days of Fighting Between AFC/M23

WALIKALE, North Kivu February 23, 2026 - A tense and fragile calm returned Monday morning to Mounts Buhaya and Fungura, located near Katobi in the Banakindi area of Kisimba group, Walikale territory, after two days of intense clashes between AFC/M23 rebels and Wazalendo fighters. The fighting erupted despite a ceasefire initiative proposed by Angola, part of ongoing regional diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing the persistent insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports indicate that AFC/M23 combatants launched simultaneous offensives on Wazalendo positions established on the strategic hills of Buhaya and Fungura. These elevated positions dominate the village of Katobi and are considered a critical defensive line for the nearby town of Pinga, an area frequently targeted by armed incursions. The confrontation led to fierce exchanges of gunfire as both sides attempted to secure control of the strategic high ground. After prolonged fighting, Wazalendo fighters claimed to have halted the rebel advance, forcing AFC/M23 elements to withdraw toward Mpety, described as one of their main operational strongholds in the zone. The violence triggered panic among civilians in Katobi and surrounding villages. Fearing for their safety, many residents fled into nearby forests, abandoning their homes to escape the clashes. Although relative calm was reported Monday morning, most displaced residents have not yet returned to their homes, citing fears of a renewed outbreak of fighting. On the ground, the security situation remains volatile, with local communities living in uncertainty and fear amid a broader context of resurgent armed violence in Walikale territory, one of the areas repeatedly affected by conflict in North Kivu Province.