M23 Rebels Withdraw from Strategic Town of Sange in South Kivu
Fighters from the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group withdrew from the town of Sange and several neighboring villages in South Kivu on May 12, 2026. The withdrawal followed diplomatic pressure and mediation efforts by the United States. Pro-government "Wazalendo" militia forces entered the liberated areas as local residents celebrated the end of the rebel occupation. However, the M23 maintains control over Kamanyola, a key crossroads near the borders of Rwanda and Burundi.