Cover — Kigali Convention Centre

Security - 11 January 2026

DRC Condemns Continued Rwandan Occupation and Expansion in the East

By Sarah Ndaya3 min readFrançais

Kinshasa - The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has strongly denounced the continued occupation of parts of its national territory by Rwandan forces, accusing Kigali of progressively expanding its presence in the eastern regions of the country, particularly around Uvira and its surrounding areas, with a southward advance. The condemnation was made public on Wednesday, December 31, in a press release issued by the Ministry of Communication and Media. In the statement, Congolese authorities described the situation as a flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty, a serious and repeated breach of international law, and a clear disregard for regional and international commitments. The government further warned that the ongoing occupation is exacerbating an already fragile security and humanitarian situation, leaving civilian populations increasingly exposed to widespread violence and instability in the affected areas. No immediate response was issued by Rwandan authorities at the time of publication.

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