Armed men from the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), led by Former President of DRC, Joseph Kabila, captured the area of Kawezi, located approximately 10 kilometres from the city of Uvira in South Kivu Province, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Reports indicate that FRN fighters seized the area in the morning, as its forces have been engaged in days of clashes with the coalition of forces fighting alongside the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the Rugezi area of Fizi Territory.
Kinshasa government forces, particularly the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and Burundian troops, have been launching attacks on Rugezi for several days in an attempt to reopen a route that would allow them to return to Point-Zéro and Minembwe.
On Sunday morning, October 25, the forces captured the area of Kuwihene in Rugezi. However, eight hours later, FRN fighters drove them out, forcing them to flee on foot.
The capture of Kawezi comes amid growing concerns that FRN forces could return to the city of Uvira.
The coalition's forces entered the city in December 2025 when they were still part of the AFC/M23 movement. However, they withdrew a week later following intense diplomatic pressure.