Nguli Falls to MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23, Local Sources Claim
MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 have reportedly captured Nguli in DR Congo's Fizi Territory following the withdrawal of government-aligned forces, according to local sources.
FIZI, Democratic Republic of Congo — The armed group MRDP-Twirwaneho, reportedly operating alongside the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), has taken control of the Nguli area in the mountainous Fizi Territory of South Kivu province, according to local sources.
Residents and sources familiar with developments in the region said the area fell on Wednesday evening after forces aligned with the Congolese government—including the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), Burundian troops, and pro-government Wazalendo militias—withdrew toward the areas of Bibogobogo and Baraka.
The reported withdrawal is said to have enabled MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 fighters to expand their presence in the Fizi highlands, where fighting has intensified in recent weeks.
The reported capture of Nguli follows claims that the alliance had previously consolidated control over Mulima, another strategic mountainous area in Fizi Territory located approximately 40 kilometers from the town of Baraka. Military observers consider Mulima a key position because of its elevated terrain and its importance in controlling movement across the region.
Sources familiar with the situation said there was little direct fighting in Nguli, alleging that government-aligned forces, including FARDC, Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias, and fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), withdrew after assessing that MRDP-Twirwaneho and AFC/M23 had significantly strengthened their positions. The sources said the withdrawal was intended to avoid potentially heavy military losses.
The reported developments have not been independently verified, and neither the Congolese government nor AFC/M23 has officially confirmed or denied the reported capture of Nguli. The differing accounts reflect the difficulty of independently verifying battlefield developments in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Analysts monitoring the conflict say the reported withdrawal of government-aligned forces may have been aimed at avoiding a prolonged confrontation that could have resulted in significant casualties among both soldiers and civilians.
Meanwhile, reports from the region indicate that Burundian forces continue to reinforce their presence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with additional troops reportedly arriving in Baraka and other parts of Fizi Territory. Burundi has previously acknowledged deploying forces in eastern Congo as part of regional security efforts against armed groups operating near its border.
The continued movement of forces and shifting territorial control in Fizi underscore the strategic importance of the area's mountainous terrain, which remains fiercely contested by rival armed groups and government forces.
