Rwandan-supported rebel group M23 has successfully seized control of the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo, marking a swift offensive campaign launched earlier this month. The claim was announced by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, urging residents to return to their residences. Uvira, a vital port city situated at the northern edge of Lake Tanganyika and facing Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura, now falls under M23’s control.
While M23 made significant territorial gains, the Congolese authorities have not issued an immediate response regarding the city’s capture. This advancement by M23 follows a peace agreement brokered by the United States between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, excluding the rebel faction. Despite an earlier ceasefire agreement this year, both sides have accused each other of breaching the truce. The accord requires Rwanda to cease backing armed groups and actively contribute to ending hostilities in the region.
Reports from Uvira residents depict a night of chaos as Congolese military forces retreated, leading to widespread gunfire across the city. The eastern region of Congo, known for its mineral wealth near the Rwandan border, continues to be a hotspot for conflict involving over 100 armed groups, prominently including M23. This ongoing unrest has triggered a significant humanitarian crisis, displacing over seven million people according to officials.
Recent escalations in fighting have been observed in South Kivu, despite the diplomatic efforts in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President Donald Trump present. The United Nations has recorded more than 200,000 individuals displaced in the province since December 2, with over 70 casualties reported. Concerns have mounted as civilians seek refuge in neighboring Burundi, and incidents of cross-border shelling have been reported in Rugombo, raising fears of the conflict spilling over.
In response to M23’s advances, a Congolese government source informed Reuters that the military would exercise restraint to safeguard civilian populations. The rebel forces in Congo reportedly receive support from approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, with ambitions at times to push towards the capital, Kinshasa, situated about 1,600 kilometers to the east.
M23’s recent gains in Uvira mark a continuation of their past successes, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu earlier this year. The group’s takeover of Luvungi, ongoing clashes near Sange and Kiliba, and the broader violence in South Kivu have raised alarm among international groups such as the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Great Lakes. The U.S. and nine other ICG members have expressed deep concerns over the renewed hostilities, warning of potential destabilization in the region.
Burundi’s foreign minister, Edouard Bizimana, disclosed that over 30,000 refugees from Congo have sought asylum in Burundi in the past three days. The situation remains fluid as the conflict dynamics in eastern Congo continue to evolve.
