AFC/M23 Withdrawal from Uvira

Kinshasa, January 25, 2026 - The withdrawal of the Rwandan-backed AFC/M23 rebellion from the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province, was discussed for the first time during the Council of Ministers meeting held on Friday, January 23, at the African Union City complex, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. Presenting the operational situation across the country, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, reported the return of security forces to Uvira to ensure public order and the protection of civilians. He said the chaos scenario predicted by the rebellion following its withdrawal had been thwarted, thanks to measures taken with various military commands to guarantee the safety of all communities. “Following the withdrawal of RDF/M23 coalition troops from the city of Uvira, units of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo resumed their initial positions to ensure the firm defense of the city and the protection of the population, particularly members of the Banyamulenge community. The chaos envisioned by the enemy, through the manipulation of local communities, did not materialize, thanks to the firm instructions given to the commanders of operations as well as to the military justice authorities, with a view to punishing any transgressions,” read the minutes of the Council of Ministers. This development comes amid controversy surrounding the AFC/M23 announcement of its withdrawal from Uvira, which Congolese authorities believe was intended to divert attention and ease international pressure, particularly from the United States, on Kigali, which the United Nations considers the rebellion’s main supporter. On the ground, however, the AFC/M23 continues to make territorial gains and to establish a parallel administration beyond the control of central authorities. In a letter dated Thursday, January 15, 2026, to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the political coordinator of the AFC/M23, Corneille Nangaa, announced that he had placed the strategic city of Uvira under the responsibility of the international community. The group said this move was consistent with its decision to withdraw its forces, first announced on December 15, 2025, and recently reiterated, citing its commitment to the ceasefire. In the same letter, the AFC/M23 also announced the immediate withdrawal of its “observation and monitoring unit,” declining any further responsibility for the security of the city. A strategic hub in the Congolese government’s security architecture in South Kivu, Uvira had briefly slipped from Kinshasa’s control, strengthening the rebellion’s grip in North and South Kivu. The city is viewed as a key gateway that could facilitate an advance toward the Greater Katanga region, considered the economic heartland of the Democratic Republic of Congo.