DRC army recaptures villages in Fizi as fighting continues toward Point Zero

Intense combat operations continued near the strategic Point Zero in the Fizi region, where the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s army (FARDC) reclaimed several villages with the help of Burundian troops and local Wazalendo fighters. The offensive targeted armed groups known as Twirwaneho and Red‑Tabara, which are supported by Rwanda’s Defence Forces, and foreign combatants, including Somali mercenaries, were also reported among the opposition. FARDC units are advancing to consolidate these gains and maintain pressure on enemy positions.

At the same time, the Reserve Armée de la Défense (RAD) intensified its recruitment campaign in Beni, North Kivu, urging citizens to volunteer for the reserve force. Prospective volunteers will receive a 45‑day military training program at the Nyaleke centre before joining the reserve that supports the FARDC. The initiative seeks to strengthen national defense amid persistent insecurity in eastern DRC.