The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have not withdrawn from Uvira city and surrounding areas in South Kivu Province, according to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).
On December 18, 2025, M23 released photos and videos showing fighters leaving Uvira, claiming the move was in response to calls from the United States.
Prior to the announced withdrawal, the group issued several conditions, including the establishment of strong and effective safeguards by peace process guarantors to oversee the administration and demilitarization of the city, protect civilians and critical infrastructure, and ensure independent monitoring of the ceasefire through the deployment of a neutral force.
The rebels also said they would not tolerate the presence of armed groups hostile to the Government of Burundi on Congolese territory. They further stated that areas under AFC/M23 control would not be used as rear bases for cross-border attacks, citing a commitment to maintaining good neighborly relations between the two countries. However, in a statement released on Sunday, FARDC spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa Efomi dismissed the alleged withdrawal as a diversion and a media stunt aimed at misleading national and international public opinion.
He said the move was intended to exploit the confidence of American and Qatari mediators while deflecting growing international pressure on what he described as the aggressor state and its occupation forces. According to Ekenge, the claimed withdrawal does not reflect realities on the ground and demonstrates Rwanda’s lack of good faith in honoring its commitments under the Washington peace agreement. He added that human rights organizations, civil society groups, and local residents continue to observe that the withdrawal is neither real nor effective.
Ekenge said fighters dressed in Rwandan police uniforms and civilian clothing have been spotted at Kalundu Port on Lake Tanganyika and along the Congolese border with Burundi. He noted that rebel barriers and checkpoints remain in place, restricting the movement of people and goods in and around Uvira. He also cited reports of intimidation, threats, extortion, arbitrary arrests, abuses, and acts of torture against civilians allegedly committed by M23/AFC elements.
He further stated that the small unit filmed leaving the city later moved into the hills of the Middle and High Plateaus of Uvira to conceal itself, while another group advanced toward the high plateaus of Fizi in an attempt to link up with the Twirwaneho and Red Tabara militias and bypass FARDC positions. Ekenge called on the national and international community not to be misled by what he described as false declarations, assuring that all necessary measures are being taken to restore state authority and protect civilians.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to relevant authorities and intelligence services. The M23 rebels had not yet reacted to FARDC’s statement by press time. Recently, the United Nations Security Council held a meeting during which the United States reportedly presented information alleging that Rwandan President Paul Kagame was closely involved in the planning and execution of the conflict in eastern DRC, providing military and political guidance over several years.
According to the Council, Rwanda’s defense forces provided logistical and training support to M23 and deployed between 5,000 and 7,000 troops to eastern Congo. The Council also said Rwanda recently deployed surface-to-air missiles and other advanced weaponry, including suicide drones, in North and South Kivu to support M23 operations. It added that a new offensive toward Uvira launched last weekend involved Rwandan forces operating on the front lines. The M23/AFC rebels have strongly denied the allegations.
Since the group’s resurgence in 2022 under leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing M23—claims denied by both Kigali and the rebels. M23 says its objective is to fight corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within Congo’s political leadership. Earlier this year, the group launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing major towns and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.