DRC Vows to Retake Uvira as M23 Seizure Triggers Humanitarian Crisis

M23 rebels captured the key town of Uvira in eastern DRC, prompting the government to vow it will be retaken and emphasizing that the military will not surrender. The clashes, following a recent peace agreement with Rwanda, have caused over 200,000 people to be displaced, hundreds of deaths, and disruptions to healthcare, water, and power, while raising concerns about rebel access to the country’s economic heartland.

The Democratic Republic of Congo government on Friday reassured the nation that its military would not yield following the capture of Uvira by M23 rebels. Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa made the statements after the rebels seized the key commercial hub in South Kivu province near the Burundi border without resistance. Speaking to ambassadors and diplomats, Ngefa emphasized the government’s commitment to “defend the integrity of its territory” and pledged that Uvira would be “recaptured by government forces.” He stated, “We will not surrender. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supported by allied forces, are reorganizing and repositioning themselves to defend the integrity of the territory. The battle to liberate South Kivu is not over.”

The escalation in South Kivu comes days after President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a peace and economic agreement aimed at ending fighting in eastern Congo. Despite the agreement, both sides have accused each other of violating the US-brokered ceasefire. The renewed clashes have caused a significant humanitarian crisis, displacing over 200,000 people, according to the UN, and resulting in more than 400 deaths and dozens of injuries, according to provincial authorities. From December 2 to 11, nearly 100 wounded individuals were admitted to Uvira General Referral Hospital, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported. Djibril Mamadou Diallo, head of the ICRC office in Uvira, highlighted the severe impact on civilians and the urgent need for access to healthcare.

The ongoing fighting has disrupted water and power distribution, while healthcare services remain limited due to security concerns. Analysts warn that the capture of Uvira, which had served as a temporary provincial headquarters, could enable M23 rebels to advance toward the Greater Katanga region, a crucial economic hub. Control of the city would also obstruct a key supply route for arms and materials from Burundi to government forces, further complicating the security and humanitarian situation in the region.