Reports from South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) indicate that the rebel group M23 is advancing rapidly toward Shabunda Territory following the fall of key localities.
According to local sources, heavy fighting in recent days led to the fall of Chulwe and Luntukulu, two strategic positions whose capture has opened the way for the rebel forces to move deeper into the vast Shabunda region.
Government troops of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their allied militias known as the Wazalendo reportedly withdrew from several positions, leaving the area largely deserted.
Witnesses describe growing fear among residents as the rebels continue their advance. “A strong sense of panic has taken hold in Shabunda,” one local source told regional media, adding that the population fears imminent clashes as M23 troops push toward Shabunda Centre and Matili.
Shabunda, one of the largest territories in South Kivu province, has long been difficult to access and lightly garrisoned, making it vulnerable to armed incursions.
The reported advance marks a significant expansion of M23’s operations.
If captured, Shabunda would represent a major shift in the conflict’s geography, extending M23’s influence further south and deepening insecurity across eastern DRC.
The Congolese army has not yet issued an official statement on the situation, while local humanitarian organizations warn that renewed fighting in the area could trigger fresh displacement among civilians already affected by years of conflict.