Heavy fighting reported in Mulima as Foreign Mercenaries Allegedly Retreat to Uvira

Heavy fighting was reported in the Mulima area of Fizi Territory, South Kivu Province, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, as forces aligned with the Congolese government reportedly suffered losses in clashes with the AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho.

Sources close to the front lines told Bwiza that the fighting around Mulima was intense, with foreign mercenaries reportedly fighting alongside government forces. The sources claim that some of the mercenaries were forced to withdraw toward the city of Uvira following the clashes.

The mercenaries, many of whom are reportedly Colombian nationals, were recruited by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government to support the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in military operations against AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho in the mountainous areas of South Kivu.

Their deployment in the region is not new. Previous reports have linked personnel working for Vectus Global, a security company associated with Erik Prince, to military support operations in eastern DRC, including the use of drones and other forms of logistical and operational assistance.

However, claims concerning casualties among the foreign fighters could not be independently verified. The exact number of mercenaries killed or wounded in Sunday's fighting also remains unclear.

Sources further reported casualties among FARDC and allied forces, alongside the loss of military equipment. These claims could not independently be confirmed at the time of publication.

Fighting Spreads Along the Fizi Front

The latest clashes come amid continued fighting across strategic areas of South Kivu.

According to local sources, AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho have maintained significant pressure along the Point-Zéro axis. The area is strategically important because of its position along routes connecting Minembwe, Mikenke, Mwenga and Fizi.

Local reports indicate that Angúlé, located in Bashilocha Groupement in the Tanganyika sector, has also reportedly fallen under the control of forces aligned with AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho.

The same sources claim that the forces have advanced toward the outskirts of Mulima, with reports suggesting that they could seek to capture Mulima, Lumanya and Mukela before potentially moving toward Baraka and Fizi-Centre, also known as Kalembelembe.

Reports also indicate that Kanguli has changed hands following fighting between government forces and the opposing coalition, although these claims have not been independently verified.

Communication Blackout Raises Concern

The security situation has also raised concerns among civilians in Fizi, where residents have reportedly experienced disruptions to telephone and internet services.

The communication blackout has made it difficult for residents to obtain reliable information about developments on the battlefield and the broader security situation in the territory.