DR Congo: Uvira Falls to AFC/M23 Rebels as Tensions Escalate in the Great Lakes Region. KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — December 11, 2025 The strategic town of Uvira, serving as the provisional capital of South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has fallen under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel movement.
The rebels, who have been widely accused of receiving military support from Rwanda, reportedly entered the town in less than 24 hours without encountering significant resistance.
Civil society leader Josué Kayeye expressed astonishment at the swift fall of Uvira, noting that Congolese forces and their allies had successfully blocked the M23 advance at Kamanyola since March. “For Uvira to fall in less than 24 hours raises many questions,” Kayeye.
Multiple sources confirmed that the first AFC/M23 fighters arrived around 10 a.
M. Entering the town partly on foot and then by vehicles that moved through major arteries.
Sporadic gunfire echoed across several neighborhoods as the group tightened its control.
By Wednesday afternoon, the new occupants had initiated door — to-door search operations.
The sudden change in control has triggered fear and uncertainty, prompting a mass exodus of civilians toward neighboring Burundi. Bujumbura promptly closed its borders, leaving thousands stranded or seeking temporary refuge in makeshift areas along the frontier.
In the capital, Kinshasa, the government accused Rwanda of flagrantly violating the Washington peace agreement signed just days ago. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa convened emergency security meetings, with government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya warning of escalating regional risks. “Rwanda is violating the agreement we signed in Washington, and doing so with impunity,” Muyaya.
“This is no longer just a breach of commitments—it represents a dangerous regionalization of the conflict. Rwanda is now clearly targeting Burundi in addition to destabilizing the DRC. We call on the mediator to use all available leverage to restore peace and ensure Rwanda complies with the agreement.
” Rwanda has rejected all accusations, with Kigali arguing that it “cannot be held responsible for ceasefire violations, ongoing attacks, and fighting in South Kivu province. ” The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead accused the Congolese and Burundian armies—and their allied forces—of “systematically bombing civilian villages near the Rwandan border using fighter jets and attack drones,” insisting that AFC/M23 is acting in self-defense. With Uvira now under rebel control, regional leaders fear that the next hours and days could mark a dangerous turning point in the Great Lakes, testing both the fragile Washington accords and the wider regional security architecture.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
