Rwanda-backed M23 rebels say they’ve seized the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo

Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels Seize Strategic City in Eastern Congo Despite Peace Deal

The Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 has captured the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict despite recent diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the troubled region.

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka announced the takeover on social media, urging displaced residents to return to their homes. Uvira, an important port city situated on Lake Tanganyika’s northern tip, holds strategic value due to its proximity to neighboring Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

Local residents reported a night of chaos as Congolese army troops fled the city amid persistent gunfire. Though rumors circulated that South Kivu’s provincial governor had evacuated during the night, these claims were later denied by the governor himself.

Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya addressed the situation in a speech, stating that over one hundred people had lost their lives in the latest offensive, though he stopped short of explicitly acknowledging the rebel takeover of Uvira.

The capture comes just days after a U.S.-mediated peace agreement was signed by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington. The accord, witnessed by U.S. President Joe Biden, obligates Rwanda to cease support for armed groups and work toward ending hostilities in the region. However, the agreement did not include direct participation from M23, which is negotiating separately with Congo.

Earlier this year, both sides had agreed to a ceasefire, but each has since accused the other of violations. Congo, the United States, and U.N. experts have consistently accused Rwanda of backing M23, a charge that Rwanda denies despite acknowledging the presence of its troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, which it claims are there for its own security concerns.

The rebel group has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding from just hundreds of members in 2021 to approximately 6,500 fighters today, according to U.N. estimates. Experts also believe there may be up to 4,000 Rwandan forces operating within Congolese territory.

In response to the latest developments, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa issued a statement urging M23 and Rwandan troops to cease all offensive operations and calling for the Rwandan Defense Forces to withdraw to their home country.

Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered these calls Wednesday morning, placing blame on the Congolese armed forces for recent ceasefire violations. “The DRC has openly stated that it would not observe any ceasefire, and was fighting to recapture territories lost to AFC/M23, even as the peace process unfolded,” the ministry stated on social media.

Eastern Congo has become a battleground for more than 100 armed groups competing for control of the mineral-rich region, with M23 emerging as one of the most prominent. The ongoing conflict has spawned one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced according to official figures.

Local U.N. partners report that more than 200,000 people have been displaced across South Kivu province since December 2, with over 70 fatalities recorded. Many civilians have fled across the border into Burundi, raising concerns about regional spillover as reports emerge of artillery shells landing in the Burundian border town of Rugombo.

This latest offensive follows M23’s earlier seizures of Goma and Bukavu, two major cities in eastern Congo, marking significant territorial gains for the rebel group in recent months.

The continued fighting underscores the fragility of peace efforts in the region and highlights the challenges facing international mediators as they attempt to resolve a conflict deeply rooted in complex regional dynamics and competition for valuable natural resources.