In the remote highlands of South Kivu, a convergence of ethnic conflict and military escalation has left thousands of civilians trapped in a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. Armed forces and various militia groups are currently restricting the flow of life-saving supplies and preventing displaced families from fleeing active combat zones, creating a scenario where DR Congo: Aid, Movements Hindered in South Kivu Highlands has become a critical point of concern for international observers.
The crisis is centered in the Hauts Plateaux, a rugged region spanning the territories of Fizi, Mwenga, and Uvira. Here, the vacuum left by the departure of international peacekeepers has been filled by a volatile mix of state military forces and predatory armed groups. The result is a landscape of checkpoints, drone strikes, and severe food shortages that have pushed the local population to the brink of starvation.
The situation has reached a tipping point as the United Nations Security Council prepares to meet on April 15, 2026, to address the deteriorating security environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Advocates are urging the Council to implement new sanctions against abusive commanders and demand the immediate facilitation of humanitarian corridors.
The Siege of Minembwe and the Humanitarian Collapse
The city of Minembwe, the primary urban center of the highlands, has effectively become a trapped enclave. Since its capture in March 2025 by the M23 and Twirwaneho armed groups, the city has been surrounded by Congolese government forces and their allies. This encirclement has strangled the local economy and blocked the delivery of basic medical supplies and food.
The impact on the ground is stark. The scarcity of basic staples, including salt and sugar, has caused local prices to surge to five times the cost found in other South Kivu cities. Medical facilities are reporting dire shortages of essential medicines, leaving the wounded and sick with few options for care.
“We are being bombed all the time, and many people are being injured,” a medical worker in Minembwe described the current reality of living under constant threat.
Beyond the physical blockade, the Twirwaneho—a group primarily from the Banyamulenge community—have been accused of using the civilian population as a strategic shield. Reports indicate that the group has blocked civilians from leaving the city to maintain its image as a “local defense” force and has forcibly recruited fighters by threatening families with retaliation if they do not provide a soldier or financial compensation.
The Escalation of Drone Warfare
A disturbing new element of the conflict is the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to conduct strikes in the highlands. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reveals a significant spike in air and drone activity since November 2025.
Between January and March 2026, at least eight credible incidents of drone strikes were recorded. These attacks have not been limited to military targets; instead, they have frequently struck civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. On March 23, an 86-year-vintage man was killed while tending cattle near Minembwe, and on March 30, a 14-year-old boy was killed in a field in Fizi territory.
The strikes have also targeted the few remaining links to the outside world. On March 9, a community radio station in Madegu was hit, destroying solar panels and disrupting information flow in a region where telephone networks have been offline for over a year. Similarly, a church in Ilundu village suffered significant roof damage during a nighttime drone attack in March. While responsibility has not been officially claimed, the nature of the targets suggests the involvement of the Congolese army or its allied fighters.
Security Vacuums and Predatory Militias
The current instability is closely linked to the complete disengagement of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, from South Kivu in June 2024. The withdrawal, part of an agreement between the UN and the Congolese government, appears to have accelerated the rise of local militias and increased security incidents.
The conflict is characterized by deep ethnic divisions. On one side, the Twirwaneho are allied with Rwandan forces and the M23. Opposing them are the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the Wazalendo—a coalition of “patriot” militias from the Babembe, Bafuliru, and Banyiundu communities. To bolster the government effort, the Burundian army has deployed approximately 4,000 troops to the Fizi and Mwenga territories.
However, the Wazalendo have frequently turned their weapons on the population they claim to protect. In areas under Congolese control, these fighters have set up predatory barriers to extort money from passersby. Residents report that between Baraka and Fizi, Notice more than 10 such barriers where individuals are forced to pay between 1,000 and 2,000 Congolese Francs.
The abuse extends beyond extortion. In Baraka, members of the Banyamulenge community have been arbitrarily detained and beaten by Wazalendo fighters, including those led by William Yakutumba, under the accusation of supporting the M23. One victim reported paying hundreds of thousands of Congolese Francs to secure his release from an informal detention cell.
Conflict Dynamics in South Kivu
| Faction | Primary Community/Affiliation | Key Allies | Primary Objectives/Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twirwaneho / M23 | Banyamulenge | Rwandan Forces | Control of Minembwe; Local defense claims |
| FARDC | Congolese State | Burundian Army | Territorial recovery; Drone operations |
| Wazalendo | Babembe, Bafuliru, Banyiundu | FARDC (informal) | Anti-M23 operations; Local checkpoints |
The Path Forward
The Congolese government maintains that It’s working to rein in the militia groups. General Fabien Dunia, the regional commander of the Congolese army, stated in early 2026 that his forces had arrested several abusive Wazalendo fighters in Uvira and Baraka as part of an effort to keep armed elements out of urban centers.
Despite these claims, the humanitarian situation remains “severe” according to UN classifications. There are growing calls for MONUSCO to re-engage in the region under a December 2025 UN Security Council resolution, which would allow the mission to return specifically for ceasefire monitoring and verification.
The immediate priority remains the opening of aid corridors to Minembwe and the cessation of drone strikes on civilian targets. Without a concerted international effort to pressure all warring parties, the Hauts Plateaux risk sliding into a permanent state of forgotten warfare.
The next critical milestone will be the UN Security Council session on April 15, 2026, where member states will decide whether to implement targeted sanctions against the commanders responsible for blocking humanitarian access.
We invite readers to share this report and join the conversation on how the international community can better protect civilians in the DRC.
