# Escalating violence and political tension in eastern DRC > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/armed-attacks-on-civilians-in-eastern-drc > Updated: 2026-09-15T11:03:43.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 10. By mid-September 2026, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated further. In South Kivu’s Fizi territory, civil society has issued an alert regarding a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in the High and Middle Plateaus. Renewed fighting between a coalition of the FARDC, Wazalendo, and Burundian forces against the AFC/M23-Twirwaneho movement has displaced approximately 41,952 people, leading to the closure of schools, paralyzed hospitals, and the suspension of humanitarian aid. OCHA reports that hundreds of thousands of people are displaced across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. In Ituri alone, over 312,900 displaced persons require urgent aid, while North Kivu continues to see new displacements due to persistent fighting in territories such as Masisi and Beni. South Kivu is also grappling with an escalating cholera outbreak, recording 1,696 cases in August. Military operations remain active. The FARDC, supported by Wazalendo, recently regained control of the strategic Miko hill in Masisi from AFC/M23 rebels. In South Kivu, the FARDC reported neutralizing four individuals identified as Rwandan special forces and securing the surrender of 14 combatants linked to M23 and Twirwaneho. While some movement has cautiously resumed on certain transport axes like Kashebere-Mungazi, the security situation remains highly unstable. ## Claims - At least 31 civilians were killed in attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces in Ituri province between 22 and 27 July 2026. (disputed by 4 sources) - Joseph Paluku, head of a civil‑society group in Mambasa, reported the death toll. (disputed by 3 sources) - At least 39 people were killed in attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces in Mambasa territory, Ituri, between July 22 and July 31, 2026. (disputed) - The attacks took place in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, DRC. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The Allied Democratic Forces are linked to the Islamic State. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Allied Democratic Forces originated as an insurgent movement in Uganda and have bases in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are conducting operations against the Allied Democratic Forces. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The ADF attacks are not related to the conflict between the DRC army and the M23 rebel movement. (corroborated by 3 sources) - More than 190 civilians have been killed by ADF/NALU attacks in the Babila‑Babombi chiefdom of Mambasa territory since January 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A truck accident in Haut-Katanga resulted in between 33 and 41 deaths. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Nine motorcycles were burned and several houses were destroyed during the ADF attacks in Mambasa. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-15: Democratic Republic of the Congo faces conflict and humanitarian crises The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces escalating conflict in the east, with hundreds of thousands displaced and cholera rising, alongside a fatal truck accident in the south leaving dozens dead. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/conflict-in-eastern-drc-triggers-humanitarian-crisis-and-territorial-shifts ### 2026-09-13: DRC government reports containment of M23 and Rwandan forces The DRC government claims to have contained M23 and Rwandan forces in the east, while political leader Eugène Diomi warns against including the rebels in national political dialogues. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drc-government-reports-containment-of-m23-and-rwandan-forces ### 2026-09-05: DRC faces political tension and security crises amid National Dialogue proposal DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has proposed a National Dialogue to address instability, amid rebel advances in North Kivu and political accusations regarding the legitimacy of opposition movements. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drc-security-and-political-tensions-rise-amid-m23-and-opposition-allegations ### 2026-09-04: Conflict in eastern DRC triggers displacement and detention disputes Conflict in eastern DRC escalates as the Wazalendo group demands the release of detained commanders while fighting between FARDC and M23 rebels drives mass displacement in North Kivu. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/conflict-in-eastern-drc-triggers-displacement-and-detention-disputes ### 2026-08-26: M23 rebels accused of mass killings and human rights abuses in DRC The DRC government and UN experts report mass killings, torture, and rising sexual violence by M23 rebels in eastern Congo, despite recent progress in peace negotiations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/m23-rebels-accused-of-mass-killings-and-human-rights-abuses-in-drc ### 2026-08-23: DRC government reports mass killings and drone attacks in occupied territories The DRC government reports over 300 deaths and widespread human rights abuses in AFC/M23 occupied zones, including a recent drone attack on civilians in Fizi that officials call a potential war crime. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drc-government-reports-mass-killings-and-drone-attacks-in-occupied-territories ### 2026-07-31: Allied Democratic Forces attacks in eastern DRC kill dozens, UN imposes sanctions on rebel leaders ADF attacks in Ituri and Mangina killed at least 39 and over 20 people, respectively; UN sanctions M23 and FDLR leaders amid rising displacement in eastern DRC. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/allied-democratic-forces-attacks-in-eastern-drc-kill-dozens-un-imposes-sanctions-on-rebel-leaders ### 2026-07-26: Allied Democratic Forces attacks in Ituri, DRC kill at least 31 civilians ADF militants linked to ISIS killed at least 31 civilians in Ituri’s Babila‑Babombi chiefdom (22‑27 July 2026) and have caused over 190 deaths since January 2026; DRC and Ugandan forces are conducting joint ops 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/31-civilians-killed-in-adf-attacks-in-drcs-ituri-province ### 2026-07-22: ADF attacks kill at least 22 civilians in eastern DRC ADF attacks in eastern DRC in late July 2026 killed at least 22 civilians, displaced hundreds, and spurred calls for stronger security. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/allied-democratic-forces-kill-23-civilians-in-north-kivu-attacks ### 2026-07-13: Violent attacks kill women in Kamituga and Walikale, eastern DRC Two women were killed in separate incidents in Kamituga and Walikale, eastern DRC, sparking community outrage and calls for stronger security and investigations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/violent-attacks-kill-women-in-kamituga-and-walikale-eastern-drc --- Cite as: Escalating violence and political tension in eastern DRC. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/armed-attacks-on-civilians-in-eastern-drc