AFC/M23 rebels have taken control of Uvira, a key town in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This area is considered the provisional capital of the region. The rebels, known as AFC/M23, are accused of getting military help from Rwanda. Josué Kayeye, a civil society leader, said the rebels entered the town in less than a day and didn’t face any resistance. He said it’s surprising since Congolese forces had stopped the rebels at Kamanyola for months.
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| PAN AFRICAN VISION |
Residents said the first rebels arrived around mid-morning on Wednesday.
Some walked while others used major roads to move into the town. There was some shooting in different parts of the town as the rebels took over and searched homes. This led to a large number of people fleeing to Burundi. Burundi quickly closed its borders, leaving thousands of displaced people stuck at the border, looking for temporary shelter.
In Kinshasa, the Congolese government accused Rwanda of breaking the recent Washington peace agreement.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa held emergency meetings about security, and spokesperson Patrick Muyaya warned that this situation shows a bigger regional problem. He said it’s not just a violation of promises, but a dangerous spread of the conflict. He urged international mediators to push Rwanda to follow the agreement.
Rwanda denied the accusations, saying it is not responsible for any violations in South Kivu.
Kigali claimed that the Congolese and Burundian armies bombed civilian areas near the border and that AFC/M23 is fighting for self-defense. With Uvira now under rebel control, regional observers are concerned that the next few days could challenge both the Washington agreement and the overall peace in the Great Lakes region.