The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) say they are preparing a counter-offensive to recover positions lost to Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN) rebels in the Bunyakiri area of Kalehe Territory, South Kivu.
Major Dieudonné Kasereka, spokesperson for the 34th Military Region, announced the preparations on Monday, 9 November 2026. He said government forces had halted the rebels’ advance at Bulambika and were organising a counter-attack.
Kasereka called on residents to support the army and expressed confidence that government troops would recover the lost positions.
Rebels advance through Kalonge and Bitale
Local sources reported that FRN fighters took control of Kalonge and Bitale on Saturday, 7 November.
The fighters entered Bitale in the morning, prompting FARDC troops and their Wazalendo allies to withdraw towards Myowe. Residents also reported the rebels’ arrival in Kalonge later that afternoon.
On Sunday, 8 November, local sources reported that FRN fighters entered Bulambika following the withdrawal of government forces and their allies.
The captures extended the rebels’ presence along the road connecting Bukavu with Bunyakiri and Hombo.
Fighting displaces residents
The clashes forced residents to leave their homes in Bitale, Bulambika and surrounding communities. Some travelled towards Hombo, while others sought shelter in forests and areas around Kahuzi-Biega National Park, according to local reporting.
Radio Maendeleo reported fighting on several routes across Kalehe during the weekend, including Kalonge–Bunyakiri and Katasomwa–Bushaku.
The station said residents fled several villages along the Mubuku–Bushaku axis. It also reported that gunfire injured two people in that area, a 67-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman.
In Kalonge, residents remained indoors on Sunday as fighting disrupted commercial activities.
Bunyakiri lies on a key transport route
Bunyakiri lies along National Road 3, known as the RN3, which links Bukavu with Miti, Bunyakiri, Hombo and Walikale before continuing towards Kisangani.
The route carries passengers, merchandise and agricultural produce between communities in South Kivu and North Kivu. Humanitarian organisations also use it to reach populations along the corridor.
Bulambika serves as an administrative and commercial centre, with facilities including a general referral hospital and a health-zone office.
Shops begin reopening in Bulambika
Residents said that some shops reopened and traffic resumed in Bulambika on Monday morning, a day after the rebels entered the town.
Some residents had stayed inside their homes during the takeover. Others fled towards communities along the RN3, including Kambali, Kambegeti, Mashere, Kamananga and Hombo.
