More than 74 civilians have died in the fierce fighting between March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their coalition since December 2, 2025, according to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The clashes have affected several areas across Uvira Territory, including Katogota, Lubalika, Luvungi, Bwegera, Mutalule, Nyakabere, Kyanyunda, Sange, Kabunambo, Luningu, Kiliba, Kahwizi, and Kala. These areas have reportedly fallen under rebel control. On Wednesday, the M23 announced that it had also captured the city of Uvira.
In a statement released the same day, Bruno Lemarquis, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the DR Congo and acting head of MONUSCO, reported that in addition to the 74 civilians killed, 83 others had been injured. Lemarquis said the fighting has led to a rapid deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation. He noted that more than 200,000 people have been displaced within the province, while thousands of others have crossed into Burundi and Rwanda to escape the violence.
He added that the peace agreement signed on December 4, 2025, in Washington between the DR Congo and Rwanda offers a glimmer of hope, but its success depends on a swift cessation of hostilities. Humanitarian agencies, he said, are ready to intervene once security conditions allow.
The DR Congo government has not yet issued a statement regarding the M23 advance toward Uvira or MONUSCO’s assessment. The M23/AFC leadership has also not responded directly to the UN’s remarks. However, on Wednesday night, the rebels’ political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, released a statement officially confirming that M23 forces had captured Uvira, describing the takeover as a “liberation,” and urging displaced civilians to return home.
“The AFC/M23 informs the public that, for more than three months, it has been denouncing the spread of hate speech, attacks targeting our compatriots because of their appearance, as well as massacres committed in areas liberated by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime and their ally, Burundi. Today, the threat has been lifted, and we confirm that the city of Uvira is now liberated. We call on our compatriots to resume their activities with complete peace of mind: the AFC/M23 is present to ensure their protection. We also invite those who had fled to return to their homes, now freed from all harassment and all violence,” Kanyuka said.
Across 2025, M23 has seized several major towns, key transport routes, and the region’s two main airports. Since the group’s resurgence in 2022 under leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels—an allegation denied by both Rwanda and M23. The rebel movement says its objective is to combat corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within Congo’s political leadership. This year, M23 launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing several of the region’s largest cities and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
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