Rwandan-backed rebel group M23 has declared the capture of the strategically significant city of Uvira in eastern Congo on Wednesday afternoon, following a swift offensive launched at the beginning of the month. The announcement was made by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, urging residents to return to their homes. Uvira, a crucial port city located at the northern edge of Lake Tanganyika and directly opposite Bujumbura, the largest city in Burundi.
Congolese authorities have not yet responded to confirm if M23 has indeed seized control of the city. This recent offensive by M23 comes despite a peace agreement mediated by the United States and signed last week by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda in Washington. The agreement did not involve the rebels, who are engaged in separate negotiations with Congo. Although both sides had previously agreed to a ceasefire earlier this year, accusations of violations persist. The accord also requires Rwanda to cease support for armed groups and actively work towards ending hostilities.
Residents of Uvira reported a night of turmoil as Congolese army forces retreated, and gunfire echoed across the city. In the mineral-rich eastern Congo near the Rwandan border, more than 100 armed groups are competing for influence, with M23 being one of the most prominent groups. This ongoing conflict has led to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing over seven million people according to officials.
Despite the recent peace deal in Washington, D.C., signed in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, reports indicate intensified fighting in South Kivu. Local UN partners have recorded over 200,000 displacements in the province since December 2, with a death toll exceeding 70. Civilians have also fled into Burundi, and concerns have been raised about the conflict spilling over as shells have been reported in the town of Rugombo on the Burundian side of the border.
A government source in Congo informed Reuters that the military would refrain from responding to the rebel advance to safeguard civilians. UN experts estimate that about 4,000 Rwandan troops are supporting the rebels in Congo, with threats in the past of advancing towards Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, located approximately 1,600 kilometers east.
Earlier this year, M23 captured key cities like Goma and Bukavu in eastern Congo, escalating the long-standing conflict. Recent reports reveal that M23 has seized Luvungi, a town that served as the frontline since February, with ongoing fierce battles near Sange and Kiliba, villages further north along the road to Uvira. The U.S. and nine other members of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Great Lakes have expressed deep concerns over the renewed clashes in South Kivu, warning about potential destabilization of the broader region.
Burundi’s Foreign Minister, Edouard Bizimana, disclosed that over 30,000 refugees from Congo had crossed into Burundi in the last three days.
