Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have cemented control over the strategic lakeside city of Uvira in eastern Congo, displacing more than 200,000 people and killing hundreds of civilians in an offensive that has undermined a U.S.-brokered peace deal signed just days earlier.
The rapid advance, which began Dec. 2, has heightened tensions across the Great Lakes region, with the United Nations warning of a potential “regional conflagration” as fighting edges closer to Burundi’s border.
U.S.-Mediated Accord Unravels Quickly
President Donald Trump hosted Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in Washington on Dec. 4 for the signing of accords aimed at ending proxy warfare in mineral-rich eastern Congo. The agreement committed Rwanda to cease support for armed groups and Congo to neutralize Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
Trump called the deal “historic,” but fighting resumed almost immediately.
M23 forces pushed south into South Kivu province, entering Uvira on Dec. 10 and announcing full control shortly after. The city, a key port on Lake Tanganyika, had served as the interim headquarters for the provincial government since rebels seized Bukavu earlier this year.
Civilians Bear Heavy Burden
More than 400 civilians have been killed since early December, according to regional officials, with reports of bombardments and artillery fire in areas around Uvira.
Over 200,000 people fled the fighting in recent weeks, many crossing into Burundi or seeking shelter deeper inside Congo. Nationwide, more than 8 million remain displaced in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In Uvira, residents described a tense calm as of Saturday, with rebel patrols on the streets and many shops closed. Some emerged to clean debris or resume limited activities under M23 orders.
Accusations Fly Over Rwanda’s Role
The United States and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of providing troops and firepower to M23, in violation of the new accords. Congo says Rwandan special forces operated in Uvira.
Rwanda denies backing the rebels, blaming Congolese forces and their allies for instability.
M23 says its actions protect Tutsi communities and has called Uvira “liberated.”
Fears of Broader War Grow
Uvira’s fall brings M23 closer to Burundi, which has supported Congolese troops in the past. Analysts draw parallels to the Congo wars of the 1990s and 2000s, which involved multiple countries and killed millions.
U.N. officials say the escalation risks undermining peace efforts and destabilizing the region. Diplomatic initiatives appear stalled as fighting continues.
