Women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as clashes widen across South Kivu province, where they say they are defending their communities against war and sexual violence. Their participation comes as the Wazalendo armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.
Fighting has been reported since Sunday in the Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga territories of South Kivu. The conflict pits the Armed Forces of the DRC, known as FARDC, against fighters from the AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho. FARDC is being supported by the Burundi National Defense Force, or FDNB, and Kinshasa-backed Wazalendo militias.
In Uvira territory, clashes have reportedly taken place in Malimba, Rubarati and Ruhuha. Local sources say forces fighting alongside FARDC have used drones and heavy weapons. A Wazalendo fighter said FARDC, FDNB and the militias had retaken several positions in Malimba, Ruhuha and Rubarati that had been held by AFC/M23, Twirwaneho and Red Tabara fighters.
Those claims remain contested. Fidèle Rugabo, a spokesperson for Twirwaneho, said his group had repelled assaults by pro-Kinshasa forces in Kabanju, Kipupu, Nyamabuguma and Point Zéro, in the Fizi and Mwenga territories.
The Minembwe region has become a central focus of the operations. Pro-government forces are seeking to prevent a possible advance by AFC/M23 towards Tanganyika province. Military operations are also targeting Bijombo, with the stated aim of stopping AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho from progressing towards Uvira.
The stakes extend beyond the immediate fighting. Nyamitanga is described as a key commercial hub and a source of fuel supplies coming from the DRC. Control of routes towards neighbouring provinces and commercial corridors has made South Kivu an important theatre in the wider conflict.
Burundi's military role reflects the regional dimension of the fighting. Over 29,000 Burundian soldiers were deployed to the DRC between August 2022 and December 2025. Approximately 10,000 Burundian soldiers reportedly remained stationed in eastern Congo by the close of 2025.
The AFC/M23 is led by Corneille Nangaa, the former president of the DRC's Independent National Electoral Commission, known as CENI. The group calls for direct dialogue with Kinshasa, broad political and security reforms, and the creation of a federal state in the DRC. It says its struggle concerns discrimination and violence affecting the Congolese Tutsi population.
For women entering Wazalendo ranks, the stated purpose is the defence of their communities amid continuing conflict and sexual violence. The brief provides no figures for the number of women involved, how they are recruited, or whether they serve in combat, command or other roles.
The same uncertainty surrounds the latest military claims. There are no confirmed casualty figures, civilian displacement totals or timeline for the operations. The reported gains and counterclaims nevertheless show a conflict spreading across several parts of South Kivu, with civilians and commercial centres exposed to its effects.
Comments (0)