By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman
The strategic town of Uvira—provisional capital of South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo—has fallen under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel movement, a force widely accused of receiving military backing from Rwanda. According to civil society leader Josué Kayeye, the rebels entered the town in under 24 hours and encountered no resistance.
“It is astonishing,” Kayeye said, noting that Congolese forces and their allies had blocked the M23 advance at Kamanyola since March. “For Uvira to fall in less than 24 hours raises many questions.”
Multiple sources confirmed that the first AFC/M23 fighters arrived around 10 a.m., entering partly on foot, followed by vehicles that moved through major arteries of the town. Sporadic gunfire echoed across several neighborhoods as the group tightened its grip. By Wednesday afternoon, the new occupants had launched door-to-door search operations.
Fear and uncertainty triggered a mass flight of civilians toward neighboring Burundi, prompting Bujumbura to immediately close its borders. Thousands are believed to be stranded or seeking temporary refuge in makeshift areas along the frontier.
In Kinshasa, the government accused Rwanda of flagrantly violating the Washington peace agreement signed just days ago. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa convened emergency security meetings, while government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya warned of escalating regional risks.
“Rwanda is violating the agreement we signed in Washington, and doing so with impunity,” Muyaya said. “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. In a statement, Kigali argued that it “cannot be held responsible for ceasefire violations, ongoing attacks, and fighting in South Kivu province.” Rwanda’s 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.
