War breaks out again in the Mulenge highlands: A heavy attack by government forces and their allies targets civilians in Rwitsankuku
Reliable information from the Mulenge highlands, in South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reports that a coalition of government forces—comprising the FARDC, Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias, and the FDLR—launched a heavy attack against civilians in the Rwitsankuku area, which is predominantly inhabited by the Banyamulenge community.
According to these reports, the attack began early in the morning on Friday, 26/12/2025. Residents say it involved both heavy and light weapons, with gunfire and explosions heard across several areas near Rwitsankuku, including Minembwe, Mikenke, and other neighboring localities.
One resident who spoke to Minembwe Capital News said:
“Right now, we are hearing a lot of gunfire and heavy explosions in Rwitsankuku. Bombs are exploding intensely, and the attack was launched by government forces and their allies.”
The information further states that the attacking forces came from areas including Point Zero and other localities in the Mutambara groupement, in Fizi Territory, areas that are generally under the control of FARDC. As a result, many civilians fled, fearing that the fighting could escalate further.
However, some reports indicate that the Twirwaneho group intervened to defend the civilians and began pushing back the coalition of government forces and their allies. So far, there is no confirmed number of deaths or injuries, but testimonies from residents indicate that significant losses have resulted from the fighting.
These attacks are occurring at a time when the Mulenge areas had experienced a period without open ground fighting, apart from sporadic attacks by FARDC using drones and Sukhoi-25 fighter jets. Those airstrikes have destroyed civilians’ farmland, homes, and other basic infrastructure, worsening poverty and fear among populations already living under difficult conditions.
Security analysts say that continued attacks on civilian-populated areas further destabilize the entire region and underline the need for a lasting political and diplomatic solution aimed at protecting civilians and restoring sustainable peace in the Mulenge highlands and South Kivu Province as a whole.