After two weeks of fighting, AFC/M23 with Rwandan support took Uvira, South Kivu’s second city on the Burundian border, ~10 Dec 2025, days after the Washington signing; some 200,000 people fled. Under US pressure M23 announced (16 Dec) a unilateral withdrawal as a confidence-building step for Doha; the FARDC regained full control on 18 Jan 2026. HRW (May 2026) documents killings, sexual violence and abductions by M23 and Rwandan forces in Uvira.
Area of operation: South Kivu
Recent (to 3 Nov 2026)
- Sources: France 24 https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251216-m23-rebels-agree-to-us-request-for-withdrawal-from-city-in-dr-congo ; The Africa Report https://www.theafricareport.com/402529/drc-m23s-unilateral-withdrawal-from-uvira-puts-pressure-on-washington-and-doha/ ; Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/10/drc-fighting-pushes-200000-people-to-flee-as-m23-advance-dozens-killed ; HRW https://www.hrw.org/report/2026/05/14/we-are-civilians/killings-sexual-violence-and-abductions-by-the-m23-and-rwandan ; IPIS https://ipisresearch.be/publication/shifting-frontlines-in-2026-new-year-old-challenges-hostilities-in-eastern-drc-continue-amid-increased-diplomatic-efforts/
Relationships
- Attacker: M23
- Attacker: Rwanda (RDF)
- Defender: FARDC
- Defender: Burundi (FDNB)
- Defender: Wazalendo