Looting and Chaos Force Several Parishes to Cancel Masses

Uvira, South Kivu, DRC January 18, 2026 - Looting was reported Sunday in several neighborhoods of Uvira, in South Kivu province, where young people broke into buildings and stole various items, according to witnesses. The morning was marked by repeated gunfire, creating a climate of insecurity and triggering looting across different parts of the city. Administrative buildings were among the targets. Due to this deteriorating security situation, several Catholic parishes, including the Uvira Cathedral, were forced to cancel Sunday masses. At this stage, it remains unclear who controls the situation on the ground. Youths claiming affiliation with the Wazalendo group were seen in some neighborhoods, while the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) were reportedly absent from the city. These events occurred the day after a column of AFC/M23 fighters left Uvira on Saturday, January 17. Armed men in fatigues and helmets were seen departing the city, some on foot and others in trucks, with their number estimated at at least 200. The AFC/M23 claims this group was its “observation and surveillance unit” and states that their departure marks the completion of its withdrawal from Uvira, announced on January 15, while declaring that it now disclaims all responsibility for the security of the city and its inhabitants. Gunfire had already been heard around Uvira on Saturday, and anxiety remained high among residents by the end of the day.