AFC/M23 Pulls Back Toward Kamanyola as FARDC Re-Enters Luvungi

AFC/M23 fighters continued withdrawing from parts of South Kivu on Tuesday along the Uvira–Bukavu road, moving back to Kamanyola, about 70 kilometers north of Uvira, after initially pulling out of Sange toward Luvungi a day earlier.

Following the withdrawal, the armed forces of Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that government troops had entered Luvungi and were gradually redeploying into areas of the Ruzizi Plain and the Hauts-Plateaux previously controlled by AFC/M23.

Lieutenant Reagan Mbuyi told RFI that the withdrawal was the result of increasing military and diplomatic pressure on the rebel movement.

AFC/M23’s advance into Uvira in December 2025 had triggered strong reactions from the United States. Washington later called on the group to completely leave the area and retreat at least 75 kilometers away from the city in line with commitments made under ongoing peace initiatives.

Since then, the United States has imposed sanctions on several Rwandan military officials and other individuals accused of contributing to instability in eastern Congo.

However, AFC/M23 has denied that the movement represents a full withdrawal, instead describing it as a tactical repositioning. One senior official within the group said the move should be viewed as a sign of confidence in the peace process.

Late Tuesday evening, the Congolese army spokesperson in South Kivu also accused Rwanda of deploying heavy weapons on hills near the border in an effort to maintain oversight over Kamanyola and surrounding areas.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied allegations that it supports AFC/M23, insisting that its security concerns stem from the continued presence of the FDLR in eastern DR Congo.