MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 Capture Kwa Mulima, a Strategic Stronghold Previously Held by Kinshasa-Aligned Forces in Fizi
MRDP-Twirwaneho, in alliance with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), continues to expand the territories under its control in the Minembwe Highlands and Fizi Territory. According to reports from the battlefield, on Sunday, July 5, 2026, the coalition captured Kwa Mulima, an area that had long been regarded as a major stronghold of forces aligned with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Reliable information obtained by Minembwe Capital News indicates that MRDP-Twirwaneho forces under the command of Gen. Charles Sematama, operating jointly with AFC/M23 fighters, launched an offensive shortly after taking control of Point Zero. They subsequently advanced toward Kwa Mulima and succeeded in securing the strategically important area, which holds significant military and logistical value.
Kwa Mulima had served as a key defensive position for the coalition of forces fighting alongside the Kinshasa government, including the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the Burundian National Defence Force (FDNB), Wazalendo militias, the P5 armed group—reported to have links with Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa—as well as FDLR combatants.
According to the same sources, following setbacks in Minembwe, Mikenke, Bilalombili, Rwitsankuku, and Point Zero, these forces had regrouped in Kwa Mulima in an effort to reorganize and continue their military operations. However, reports from the area indicate that they were eventually pushed back after intense fighting.
Military analysts say the capture of Kwa Mulima carries particular strategic significance because of its location along the road linking Uvira, Baraka, and Minembwe—a critical route for military logistics and the movement of personnel and supplies throughout the region.
Some residents living near the area reported that, following the clashes, government-aligned forces withdrew toward other locations, while MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 strengthened their positions in the territories they had brought under their control.
As of the time of publication, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had not issued any detailed statement confirming or denying the reported capture of Kwa Mulima.
The development is being viewed as another significant territorial gain for MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 in the Minembwe Highlands and southern Fizi Territory, a shift that could have important implications for the evolving military situation and territorial control in South Kivu.
The information presented in this report is based on battlefield reports and information provided by our trusted sources. As additional information or official statements become available from the parties involved, Minembwe Capital News will continue to provide accurate, balanced, and evidence-based updates to its readers.
