AFCM23 liberated Uvira

The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and allied Mai-Mai militias are fighting the rebels but face accusations of human rights violations. The M23 (March 23 Movement), a Tutsi-led group, accuses Kinshasa of violating peace agreements; it controls large mineral-rich areas. The FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), Hutu militias with links to the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide, are provoking Rwandan intervention. Then there are foreign actors; according to UN evidence, Rwanda supports the M23; the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) carry out brutal attacks in Beni. The violence has intensified since the end of 2024, displacing over one million people near Goma and Beni. This has exacerbated food insecurity and disease outbreaks. Reports from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) highlight the strain on health systems; thousands are fleeing the M23 advances. The UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO is struggling with public distrust and attacks on its bases. This week, M23 rebels invaded the strategically important city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Supported by several thousand Rwandan soldiers, the fighters entered the city near the border with neighboring Burundi, according to media reports citing military and security sources. The advance came after the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda recently signed a new peace agreement in Washington. Fighting flared up again immediately after the signing. There appears to be a misunderstanding, however, as the peace agreement was concluded between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, not with the AFCM23. On Tuesday, the US and several European countries issued a joint statement calling on the M23 and Kigali to immediately halt their offensive. Rwanda, which is accused of supporting the M23, denies the allegations. Burundian diplomats condemned an attack on Monday by Rwandan troops on Burundian territory near Cibitoke, a town on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two people, including a 12-year-old child, were injured in the attack. On December 9-10, 2025, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, operating under the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition, entered and partially seized control of Uvira, a strategic lakeside city in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Uvira, home to around 750,000 people and serving as the provisional provincial capital since M23 captured Bukavu in February 2025, lies at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika, directly across from Burundi's economic hub of Bujumbura. This advance marks the largest territorial gain for M23 since early 2025 and threats to escalate regional tensions, with thousands fleeing towards Burundi. The push towards Uvira began intensifying on December 1, 2025, following months of relative stalemate. On December 1-3, M23 launched attacks along National Route 5 and near the Ruzizi River, targeting FARDC (DRC army), Wazalendo militias, and Burundian FDNB(4) troops in areas like Katogota, Lubarika, Kaziba, and Kamanyola. Government defenses began crumbling due to reported infighting and retreats. On December 7-8, Rebels captured Luvungi (a frontline town since February), Sange (25 km from Uvira), Luberizi, and Kiliba (17 km north). At least 74 people were killed and 83 wounded in clashes, with 200,000 displaced overall. On December 9, M23 fighters entered Uvira from the north around midnight, seizing administrative buildings, the port, and key road junctions after FARDC units withdrew. Heavy bombardments caused panic, closing businesses and emptying streets. Local sources reported AFC/M23 elements at the governor's office (Portail Noir) by early morning. On December 10 (current), a relative calm has returned to parts of the city, with timid circulation resuming, but sporadic gunfire persists. Videos from residents show M23/AFC troops moving towards the DRC-Burundi border. The city remains officially under government control per some reports, but independent verification confirms rebel presence. This offensive coincides with a U.S.-brokered peace deal signed on December 4, 2025, between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington—touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as one of his "eight ended conflicts." Hostilities resumed almost immediately, with Tshisekedi accusing Rwanda of violations. This has caused a displacement Crisis. Over 8,000 people crossed into Burundi daily on December 8-9, adding to 1.2 million already displaced in the east. Burundi, viewing M23's proximity as an "existential threat," has deployed up to 18,000 troops but suffered heavy losses, including their DRC commander. Reports of Burundian artillery strikes from its territory into DRC highlight spillover risks. Uvira's fall provides M23 control over a vital trade corridor linking South Kivu to Burundi and Tanzania, plus access to Lake Tanganyika routes for minerals like coltan. It weakens Kinshasa's hold on the Kivus and could reroute regional commerce, per analysts. M23 may next target Kalemie further south. At least 36 deaths in Sange from grenades/bombs; looting by fleeing soldiers reported. Residents describe "widespread panic" from detonations, with some welcoming M23 as liberators from "terror" by government forces. Real-time posts reflect confusion and division: Pro-M23 voices celebrate "relief" and share videos of troops at landmarks, claiming the city is "no longer under terror." Government supporters and locals report "calm" under FARDC but note ongoing flights to Burundi. Neutral observers highlight the "paper peace" failure. This event underscores the fragility of ceasefires in eastern DRC, where M23 controls much of North and South Kivu amid resource wars and ethnic tensions. For updates, monitor verified sources like Al Jazeera or Reuters, as disinformation is rampant. (1) Die CNDP-Rebellen (Nationaler Kongress zur Verteidigung des Volkes) operierten von 2006 bis 2009 im Osten der Demokratischen Republik Kongo. Anfänglich von Laurent Nkunda angeführt, hatte die Gruppe das Ziel, die kongolesischen Tutsi-Gemeinschaften vor Hutu-Milizen wie der FDLR zu schützen, die mit den Tätern des Völkermords in Ruanda 1994 in Verbindung standen. (2) Die Demokratischen Kräfte zur Befreiung Ruandas (FDLR) sind eine bewaffnete Gruppe, die hauptsächlich im Osten der Demokratischen Republik Kongo (DRK) aktiv ist. Sie wurde im September 2000 aus ruandischen Hutu-Flüchtlingen gegründet, darunter auch Überreste der ehemaligen FAR und Interahamwe, die am Völkermord in Ruanda 1994 beteiligt waren. Die FDLR ist ein Gegner der Regierung der Ruandischen Patriotischen Front (RPF). (3) Die Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) sind eine ugandische islamistische Rebellengruppe, die hauptsächlich im Osten der Demokratischen Republik Kongo (DRK) und im Westen Ugandas operiert. Sie wird von Uganda, den USA und den Vereinten Nationen als Terrororganisation eingestuft und entstand 1995 aus dem Zusammenschluss von Rebellengruppen wie der Allied Democratic Movement und der National Army for the Liberation of Uganda. (4) Die FDNB ist die primäre Streitkraft Burundis und umfasst Bodentruppen, begrenzte Luftstreitkräfte und Gendarmerieeinheiten unter dem Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung und Veteranenangelegenheiten [3][5]. Sie entstand nach dem Bürgerkrieg von 2005 durch die Integration ehemaliger Rebellen und Regierungstruppen und konzentriert sich auf Aufstandsbekämpfung, innere Sicherheit und regionale Friedenssicherung, insbesondere in Somalia im Rahmen von AU-Missionen [3]. Die Truppen beweisen trotz begrenzter Ressourcen kampferprobte Disziplin in Taktiken leichter Mobilität und Operationen im ländlichen Raum @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kivu_conflict @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo%E2%80%93Rwanda_conflict_(2022%E2%80%932025 @https://concernusa.org/news/democratic-republic-congo-crisis-timeline/ @/ @https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congo @https://lieber.westpoint.edu/conflict-eastern-drc-state-responsibility-rwanda-uganda/