South Kivu: Burundian Troops Clash with AFC/M23 in Kasika

KASIKA, Mwenga Territory - Intense fighting erupted between Burundian troops and AFC/M23 rebels in the center of Kasika on November 26, 2025, following the withdrawal of DRC forces and Wazalendo militias from several strategic areas in South Kivu. The clashes mark a new escalation in a rapidly deteriorating security situation.

On November 25, FARDC and Wazalendo units retreated from Kasika, Kamituga, and the Mwenga town axis, leaving behind a trail of looted homes and shops.A resident of Kasika described scenes of devastation: “They ransacked the shops, took everything. The people of Kasika are crying. They destroyed pharmacies, shops, cars, everything. They entered every room and emptied them.”

In Kamituga, witnesses reported Burundian soldiers beating and disarming a suspected FARDC soldier caught looting commercial establishments, further highlighting the breakdown of discipline within local units.

The retreat of government forces came after the AFC/M23 advanced and captured key positions in Mwenga, including Kilungutwe, Kitwabaluzi, Kalama, and Chowe. Their progress sparked alarm within the DRC government over the possibility that Mwenga center itself could soon fall.

At dawn on November 26, recognizing FARDC’s absence and collapse of defenses, Burundian troops re-entered Kasika and engaged the AFC/M23 rebels, who had seized control of the area the previous day. Sources in Mwenga confirmed that no DRC soldiers participated in the fighting - a pattern seen in previous confrontations when FARDC units withdraw upon facing intense resistance.

The involvement of the Burundian army signals the seriousness of the threat, as the AFC/M23 pushes closer to its strongholds in the highlands surrounding Minembwe, spanning the territories of Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga.

For several days, AFC/M23 commanders have warned that if FARDC continues operations against their strongholds or densely populated areas under their influence, they will “defend themselves and the civilians under attack.”

Analysts warn that if Burundian forces lose Kasika, the AFC/M23 could gain momentum to seize additional territory across South Kivu - mirroring their sweeping gains earlier in the year when they forced government and coalition forces out of North Kivu.