Uvira Buckles Under Pressure

Nestled along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the strategic city of Uvira now finds itself on the edge. Since early 2025, M23 rebel forces, supported by the Congo River Alliance, have gradually tightened their grip on this once-thriving hub of 726,000 residents. Once a bustling commercial centre, Uvira has become a frontline battlefield where the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), backed by local Wazalendo militias and Burundian reinforcements, are fighting a desperate rear-guard action. Amidst this turmoil, the local civilian population, caught in the crossfire, endures the heaviest toll.

A Blistering Offensive

The situation took a dramatic turn on February 18 when M23 forces seized Kamanyola, a locality 75 kilometres north of Uvira, inflicting a severe blow on FARDC forces and forcing them to retreat. Within 24 hours, Uvira plunged into chaos—gunfire echoed through the streets, looting erupted, and over 500 prisoners staged a dramatic escape from Mulunge prison. Faced with mounting violence, thousands of residents fled toward neighbouring Burundi or sought refuge in relatively safer towns like Kalemie and Moba, leaving behind only about 20% of the population in a city that increasingly resembles a ghost town.

Internal Fractures and Fratricidal Clashes

By February 25, internal discord erupted as infighting broke out between FARDC and their Wazalendo allies, resulting in 20 deaths and 60 wounded. Although the Wazalendo managed to temporarily reclaim positions such as the Kaziba chiefdom, the relentless advance of M23 forces continued unabated. Village after village in the Uvira highlands fell under rebel control, and defections from local militias further undermined an already fragile defence.

Burundi Steps In

In a bid to stem the rebel tide, Burundi—an ally of Kinshasa—deployed troops across the RuiziRiver into Luvungi. However, the intervention has only added to the uncertainty: questions remain about the ability of these reinforcements to halt the M23 advance amid persistent suspicions of covert support from Rwanda. The situation on the ground remains volatile, with the ultimate outcome still unknown.

A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

As the fighting intensifies, the humanitarian situation worsens. Hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of wounded, while markets, pharmacies, and banks remain shuttered. Civilians left in the lurch find themselves trapped in a desperate struggle between fleeing and merely trying to survive, with scant help or hope of escape.

The Noose Tightens

By April 2025, anxiety in the region had reached a fever pitch. In a massive redeployment along the Bukavu–Uvira axis observed between April 11 and 16, M23/AFC forces appear to be gearing up for the capture of Uvira, with a potential further push toward Kalemie on the horizon. This military buildup is fanning widespread fear among the population, especially in light of past abuses in rebel-controlled areas and comes despite diplomatic efforts aimed at averting an outright occupation of the city.

A Fragile Glimmer of Diplomacy

Amid the carnage, a slender thread of hope has emerged through diplomatic channels. Peace talks, brokered by Qatar, began early in April with an initial session on the 7th and a follow-up scheduled for the 9th. Yet on the ground, the disconnect remains palpable—as fighting persists unabated and ceasefire promises are repeatedly broken.

Uvira: A Symbol of Endless Conflict

Once a thriving urban centre, Uvira now stands on the brink. Besieged by relentless M23 attacks, fragmented FARDC counterattacks, internal divisions, and regional power plays, the city has become a stark symbol of eastern Congo’s enduring tragedy. Civilians bear the ultimate cost of this unyielding conflict. With only around 6,000 Wazalendo fighters still defending Uvira, a desperate appeal has been made to President Tshisekedi for additional ammunition and supplies. Recent clashes, which claimed at least 17 Burundian soldiers in Rugezi, underscore the grim reality: Uvira is now squarely in the rebels’ sights, its future uncertain, and its people paying the highest price for an endless war.