AFC/M23 reportedly enters Uvira as FARDC troops flee
Reports from South Kivu confirm that fighters from the AFC/M23 coalition entered the city of Uvira on Tuesday night, plunging the area into chaos as government troops and civilians fled in different directions. The situation remained uncertain throughout the day, with residents describing widespread fear and confusion.
Congolese Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said Kinshasa is “closely monitoring” developments along the Kamanyola–Uvira axis. He noted that the past days had already been tense following allegations that mortar shells fired from Bugarama, in Rwanda, had landed on Congolese territory.
“Today there was a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss what happened in Washington… and to assess reports from the ICRC and other humanitarian agencies, which are deeply concerning,” Muyaya said. He added that several ministers, including the Minister of Defence, were reviewing possible responses as the situation evolves.
Muyaya again accused Rwanda of fueling regional instability, alleging that recent attacks had reached into Burundian territory. He said these concerns would be presented to mediators involved in the diplomatic process. He also urged the public not to rely on unverified information circulating on social media, insisting that conditions on the ground “can change from hour to hour.”
In Kigali, Rwandan Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed Muyaya’s accusations as “lies,” arguing that the DRC cannot claim to be a guardian of the ceasefire while “violating it and showing no willingness to honour the Washington agreements it recently signed.”
On the military front, AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa confirmed their forces’ advance toward Uvira, saying their objective is to “secure the city.” He said he had received phone calls from residents describing the situation as chaotic, claiming that FARDC troops and Wazalendo militiamen had abandoned their positions.
Nangaa denied allegations that Rwanda provides support to AFC/M23, reiterating that the coalition’s operations are independent. Local reports indicate that fighters from TWIRWANEHO, one of the groups within the AFC/M23 alliance, entered Uvira during the night and were reportedly welcomed by some residents.
If confirmed, the fall of Uvira would mark the third major city in eastern DRC to be seized by AFC/M23 in 2025, following Goma and Bukavu earlier in the year.
Speaking to journalists, Nangaa insisted his movement has no intention of clashing with Burundi, calling on Bujumbura to withdraw its troops currently deployed on Congolese soil.
