Congolese troops and allied pro-government militias have reentered the strategically important eastern city of Uvira, a month after it fell to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. This development comes amid escalating violence in the region, despite ongoing efforts for peace mediated by the United States.
The Congolese army announced on Sunday that it had regained control of Uvira following the M23 rebels’ withdrawal last month. Army spokesperson Mak Hazukay confirmed that troops are actively deploying throughout Uvira and neighboring areas to consolidate their positions and protect local residents and their property.
Residents in Uvira welcomed the return of government forces. One local, Alain Ramazani, told the Associated Press by phone that soldiers were now patrolling the city alongside fighters from the pro-government Wazalendo militia. However, sporadic gunfire was still reported, with uncertainty over whether it involved militia members, army troops, or armed civilians, according to Ghislain Kabamba, a human rights monitor based in Uvira.
M23 seized Uvira last month following a rapid offensive that left more than 1,500 people dead and displaced approximately 300,000, according to Congolese government officials. The rebel group later announced its withdrawal as a “unilateral trust-building measure,” reportedly at the request of the U.S. to advance the fragile peace process.
Uvira was the government’s last significant stronghold in South Kivu province after the provincial capital, Bukavu, fell to M23 in February. The capture of Uvira allowed the rebels to establish a broad corridor of influence in eastern Congo. The conflict has also intensified fears of regional destabilization, as the fighting drew closer to Burundi, which has troops stationed in eastern Congo.
This latest escalation followed a meeting in Washington between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and U.S. President Donald Trump, where the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a U.S.-brokered peace agreement.
The Congolese government, supported by the U.S. and the United Nations, accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels. The group has swelled from a few hundred fighters in 2021 to roughly 6,500 today, according to U.N. estimates.
The mineral-rich eastern Congo region remains one of the most complex conflict zones in the world, with more than 100 armed factions vying for control. The humanitarian toll is severe, with over 7 million people displaced.
Despite diplomatic efforts and peace talks involving the rebels and government, violence continues on multiple fronts, exacting a heavy toll on both civilians and military personnel.
We will continue to monitor this developing story and bring you updates as they become available.
Reporting by Ehud Jones.
