M23 Expands Regional Influence Through Armed Alliances From Ituri to South Kivu

Kinshasa, April 5, 2026 - A new analysis indicates that the M23 movement has significantly expanded its influence beyond eastern North Kivu by building a structured network of armed alliances stretching from Ituri to South Kivu, reshaping the dynamics of armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The report highlights the emergence of two main alliance axes since 2023: one in the northeast in Ituri Province and another in the south in South Kivu Province, enabling the movement and its political wing, the AFC, to extend operational reach beyond territories under its direct control.

In Ituri, M23-linked networks are said to have developed ties with local armed groups including Self-Defense of Victimized Communities of Ituri (ADCVI), also known as Zaïre, and the Convention for the People’s Revolution led by Thomas Lubanga. These relationships are described as being reinforced through training exchanges, leadership contacts, and battlefield coordination, with hundreds of fighters reportedly integrated into training structures associated with M23 over recent years.

The report notes that these connections were facilitated by intermediary commanders with longstanding influence in the region, contributing to the gradual integration of fighters from Ituri into broader operational structures linked to M23 and AFC leadership.

In South Kivu, the alliance-building process has centered on relations with Twirwaneho, an armed group rooted in the Banyamulenge community. Unlike in Ituri, the partnership developed more slowly due to initial mistrust and political hesitations within local leadership, but gradually solidified amid rising insecurity and repeated attacks against civilian populations in highland areas.

The alignment was ultimately strengthened through internal community pressures and shifting perceptions of protection and survival, leading Twirwaneho to formally integrate into the M23-linked framework in 2024.

The report emphasizes the historical significance of this evolving network, noting that Banyamulenge armed groups had previously maintained distance from Rwanda-linked movements following earlier regional wars, but gradually shifted positions due to changing security realities and perceived abandonment by national authorities.

It further notes that ideological integration has deepened in recent years, with shared narratives and historical frameworks now incorporated into training programs within M23-linked structures, reflecting a broader effort to unify diverse armed factions under a common political and military vision.