After AFC/M23 Withdrawal, Governor Purusi Calls for Peaceful Coexistence in Uvira

Uvira DRC January 23, 2026 - Jean Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province, returned to Uvira, the provisional provincial capital, on Friday following the withdrawal of the AFC/M23. On his first day back in the city, which he had left more than 40 days earlier, the governor delivered a strong message calling for peace, unity, and peaceful coexistence among communities. “To achieve peace, we must not fall into the enemy’s trap. We must live united; we are all children of the same mother and father,” Governor Purusi declared during a public gathering. He specifically urged an end to hostile rhetoric against the Banyamulenge and other communities, warning against hate speech and collective punishment. “Do not fall into the trap of saying, ‘We are going to attack the Banyamulenge, kill them, wound them, or destroy their homes.’ That is the enemy’s strategy. We will find those Banyamulenge families who fled because the enemy contributed to their displacement, because they are our brothers,” he stressed. The AFC/M23 withdrew from Uvira less than a week ago. Following their departure, the Congolese army and its Wazalendo allies reoccupied the city, allowing state institutions to gradually resume operations. In addition to the governor, the mayor and several other government officials have also returned to Uvira, marking a step toward the restoration of public administration and stability in the city.