AFC/ M23 rebels declare capture of Uvira in South Kivu

The AFC/M23 rebel group, which is fighting the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has announced that it has captured the city of Uvira in South Kivu Province. The announcement was made by the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, in a statement posted on X on December 10, 2025. Kanyuka said the rebels have long condemned what they describe as hate speech, attacks targeting their communities based on appearance, and killings carried out in areas previously controlled by forces aligned with the Kinshasa government and its ally, Burundi. “Today, this threat has been eliminated,

The AFC/M23 rebel group, which is fighting the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has announced that it has captured the city of Uvira in South Kivu Province. The announcement was made by the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, in a statement posted on X on December 10, 2025. Kanyuka said the rebels have long condemned what they describe as hate speech, attacks targeting their communities based on appearance, and killings carried out in areas previously controlled by forces aligned with the Kinshasa government and its ally, Burundi. “Today, this threat has been eliminated, and we confirm that the city of Uvira is now under our control. We call on our compatriots to calmly resume their daily activities. AFC/M23 is present to ensure their protection,” he wrote. He also urged those who had fled the city to return to their homes, saying they are “now free from harassment and violence.” Since the beginning of this year, AFC/M23 has taken control of several major and strategic cities in eastern DRC, including Goma, Bukavu, and now Uvira, which lies on the border with Burundi.