FARDC Regains Control of Irundu, Mikenge and Other Key Positions

South Kivu, DRC — The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have recorded significant battlefield gains in South Kivu, recapturing several strategic localities from the Twirwaneho-M23 coalition, a group operating alongside the Rwandan Army in eastern DRC.

On Thursday, June 11, FARDC forces regained control of Irundu, a key town located on the strategic axis leading to Minembwe-Centre. According to reports from the area, fighting was still ongoing in Kitave, approximately four kilometers from Minembwe-Centre, as government troops continued their advance.

The latest victory follows a successful operation carried out a day earlier in the Fizi Highlands, where FARDC troops, supported by specialized units and local Wazalendo resistance fighters, recaptured Mikenge, Kakenge, and Kalingi.

The localities had recently fallen under the control of the Twirwaneho-M23 coalition, which has been active in South Kivu amid the wider conflict involving the Rwanda-backed M23 movement. United Nations experts and several international governments have repeatedly reported support from Rwanda for M23 operations in eastern DRC, allegations Kigali continues to deny.

Military operations remain underway around Minembwe as FARDC forces seek to consolidate their gains and restore state authority in the region.

The recapture of Irundu, Mikenge, Kakenge, and Kalingi marks an important development in ongoing efforts by Congolese forces to push back armed groups and secure strategic territory in South Kivu.

The advances also come amid heightened diplomatic pressure on Rwanda and M23, following recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Washington expects Rwanda to fully withdraw its troops from Congolese territory by mid-July. The U.S. has also called for full implementation of regional peace agreements.