Mass Graves Found Following AFC/M23 Withdrawal, Specialized Teams Mobilized

UVIRA, March 1, 2026 - Two mass graves were discovered in Uvira, the provisional capital of South Kivu province, following the withdrawal of the Rwandan-backed AFC/M23 rebellion from the city. The findings were reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, after a mission to oversee the DRC-Burundi border.

According to the government, the graves were located in the Kavinvira and Kilomoni neighborhoods. Preliminary investigations by provincial authorities indicate a total of 151 civilians were buried, including 121 in Kavinvira and 30 in Kilomoni. These executions reportedly occurred around January 18, 2026, shortly before the forced withdrawal of AFC/M23 forces from the city.

The South Kivu provincial government classified the killings as war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and as potential crimes against humanity, citing the organized and systematic nature of the executions targeting civilians.

Specialized teams have been deployed to secure the sites, recover the bodies, and conduct further investigations, though no official exhumations have yet taken place. The identities of both victims and perpetrators remain unknown.

Uvira, a strategic city in South Kivu, had been under AFC/M23 control since December 2025. The withdrawal followed international pressure, notably from the United States, after violations of the Washington Agreement were reported. The city’s recapture is considered a key step in DRC’s efforts to reassert control over the region and prevent further rebel advances toward Greater Katanga, the country’s economic heartland.

The discovery underscores the severe humanitarian impact of the AFC/M23 rebellion and highlights the ongoing challenges in securing civilian safety in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.