AFC/M23 Hands Over Uvira to International Forces

The AFC/M23 coalition fighting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced that it has handed over the city of Uvira to the international community, calling on it to ensure the safety of residents. On December 16, 2025, AFC/M23 said it would withdraw its fighters from the city. Two days later, the group claimed it had withdrawn, though the DRC government denied this. In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General dated January 15, 2026, AFC/M23 stated that it had requested three days earlier that the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) protect the city’s population. The request was addressed to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO, Vivian Van de Perre. “Our community, AFC/M23, has decided today to place the city of Uvira under the full responsibility of the international community,” said AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo. Nangaa explained that the city had been temporarily occupied by a group of AFC/M23 fighters tasked with monitoring the area while awaiting the arrival of an impartial military force, but that they too had withdrawn on January 15. AFC/M23 informed the United Nations that the Burundian army, the FDLR terrorist group, Wazalendo groups, and the Cancuru are threatening the security of Uvira’s residents. “Their presence and activities are not only a threat to the security of civilians, but also to the ongoing peace process and the security of the region,” the group said. The coalition urged the international community to urgently deploy neutral forces to Uvira to prevent a repeat of the suffering experienced when the city was under DRC government control. AFC/M23 captured Uvira on December 9, 2025, after a week-long battle in parts of the Ruzizi Valley in South Kivu Province. It said the withdrawal was made at the request of the United States to allow peace talks to continue. According to the group, the U.S. asked it to return to its former positions, within 75 kilometers of Uvira, assuring that only then could the international community ensure the protection of civilians. When the UN Security Council voted to extend MONUSCO’s mandate for another year, it assigned the mission new responsibilities, including monitoring the peace process in South Kivu Province, suggesting that troops may soon be deployed to Uvira. Twirwaneho Shoots Down DRC Army Drone The MRDP-Twirwaneho armed group fighting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced that it has shot down one of the DRC army drones, which it accuses of targeting Banyamulenge civilians in South Kivu Province. Twirwaneho’s spokesman, Col. Kamasa Ndakize Welcome, said that on January 15, 2026, forces from the DRC, Burundi, the FDLR, and Wazalendo groups carried out attacks in the Point-Zéro area, located about 10 kilometers from Minembwe commune. “This operation included ground and drone attacks, which deliberately targeted residents of the Rwitsankuku center and surrounding areas, destroying civilian infrastructure, forcing residents to flee, and putting the lives of innocent civilians in grave danger,” Col. Kamasa said. He added that these attacks prompted Twirwaneho fighters to intervene, shoot down the coalition’s drone, and capture key areas, including Mount Baruta, which he said had long been used by opposing forces. “In response to these actions, MRDP-Twirwaneho fighters immediately moved to defend civilians, shot down the enemy drone that was firing on civilian areas, repelled the ground attack, destroyed enemy positions, and captured key areas, including Mount Baruta, which had long been used to fire at civilians,” he said. Twirwaneho declared that it would not tolerate the atrocities committed by the coalition of DRC government forces and said it would continue to fulfill its duty to protect civilians and their property.

Faits rapportés

The AFC/M23 coalition fighting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced that it has handed over the city of Uvira to the international community, calling on it to ensure the safety of residents. On December 16, 2025, AFC/M23 said it would withdraw its fighters from the city. Two days later, the group claimed it had withdrawn, though the DRC government denied this. In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General dated January 15, 2026, AFC/M23 stated that it had requested three days earlier that the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) protect the city’s population. The request was addressed to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO, Vivian Van de Perre. “Our community, AFC/M23, has decided today to place the city of Uvira under the full responsibility of the international community,” said AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo. Nangaa explained that the city had been temporarily occupied by a group of AFC/M23 fighters tasked with monitoring the area while awaiting the arrival of an impartial military force, but that they too had withdrawn on January 15. AFC/M23 informed the United Nations that the Burundian army, the FDLR terrorist group, Wazalendo groups, and the Cancuru are threatening the security of Uvira’s residents. “Their presence and activities are not only a threat to the security of civilians, but also to the ongoing peace process and the security of the region,” the group said. The coalition urged the international community to urgently deploy neutral forces to Uvira to prevent a repeat of the suffering experienced when the city was under DRC government control. AFC/M23 captured Uvira on December 9, 2025, after a week-long battle in parts of the Ruzizi Valley in South Kivu Province. It said the withdrawal was made at the request of the United States to allow peace talks to continue. According to the group, the U.S. asked it to return to its former positions, within 75 kilometers of Uvira, assuring that only then could the international community ensure the protection of civilians. When the UN Security Council voted to extend MONUSCO’s mandate for another year, it assigned the mission new responsibilities, including monitoring the peace process in South Kivu Province, suggesting that troops may soon be deployed to Uvira. Twirwaneho Shoots Down DRC Army Drone The MRDP-Twirwaneho armed group fighting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced that it has shot down one of the DRC army drones, which it accuses of targeting Banyamulenge civilians in South Kivu Province. Twirwaneho’s spokesman, Col. Kamasa Ndakize Welcome, said that on January 15, 2026, forces from the DRC, Burundi, the FDLR, and Wazalendo groups carried out attacks in the Point-Zéro area, located about 10 kilometers from Minembwe commune. “This operation included ground and drone attacks, which deliberately targeted residents of the Rwitsankuku center and surrounding areas, destroying civilian infrastructure, forcing residents to flee, and putting the lives of innocent civilians in grave danger,” Col. Kamasa said. He added that these attacks prompted Twirwaneho fighters to intervene, shoot down the coalition’s drone, and capture key areas, including Mount Baruta, which he said had long been used by opposing forces. “In response to these actions, MRDP-Twirwaneho fighters immediately moved to defend civilians, shot down the enemy drone that was firing on civilian areas, repelled the ground attack, destroyed enemy positions, and captured key areas, including Mount Baruta, which had long been used to fire at civilians,” he said. Twirwaneho declared that it would not tolerate the atrocities committed by the coalition of DRC government forces and said it would continue to fulfill its duty to protect civilians and their property.