AFC/M23 Withdraw from Strategic Buhaya Hill After Three-Month Occupation

Armed fighters of the AFC/M23 on Thursday, February 12, withdrew from their positions on Buhaya hill, three months after seizing the area from Wazalendo militia.

Buhaya is a strategic hill overlooking the Katobi area, located approximately 15 kilometers from the town of Pinga in Walikale Territory, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

AFC/M23 had captured the position in November 2025, expelling Wazalendo fighters who have been supporting the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in ongoing clashes against M23 rebels.

The reasons behind AFC/M23’s withdrawal remain unclear.

The head of Kisimba Groupement, where Buhaya is situated, confirmed that the rebel fighters vacated the position discreetly during the night of Thursday. However, he stated that their new destination is not yet known.

Following the withdrawal, reports indicate that Wazalendo fighters reoccupied the Buhaya positions on Friday, February 13, marking another shift in control in the volatile Walikale region.