In a significant development in the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, government forces have returned to a key city a month after it was seized by rebels. The Congolese army, alongside fighters from a pro-government militia, reentered the strategic town of Uvira on Sunday, 18 January 2026, according to military statements and local residents.
Strategic Reoccupation Amid Ongoing Violence
The move follows the announced withdrawal of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which had taken control of Uvira last month during a rapid offensive. Army spokesperson Mak Hazukay confirmed the deployment, stating that the Armed Forces of the DRC are continuing to move into Uvira and surrounding areas to consolidate positions and secure people and property.
Alain Ramazani, a resident of Uvira, told the Associated Press that soldiers were welcomed back after more than a month's absence. He noted they were accompanied by fighters from the pro-government Wazalendo militia. However, the situation remains tense. Ghislain Kabamba, director of a local human rights observatory based in Uvira, reported that while army jeeps patrolled on Monday morning, sporadic gunfire continued. The city, he said, is flooded with weapons, creating uncertainty over who is involved in the ongoing clashes.
A Broader Humanitarian and Regional Crisis
The conflict has exacted a heavy toll. Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said on Monday that more than 1,500 people have been killed and approximately 300,000 displaced in the recent fighting. The capture of Uvira was particularly significant as it was the government's last major foothold in South Kivu province after the provincial capital, Bukavu, fell to rebels in February. Its loss had allowed M23 to consolidate a broad corridor of influence across the east.
The rebel push also brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighbouring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years. This proximity has heightened fears of a broader regional spillover, destabilising an already fragile area.
Failed Diplomacy and Accusations
The seizure of Uvira came just days after Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to reaffirm a US-brokered peace deal. M23 later stated its withdrawal from the city was a "unilateral trust-building measure" requested by the US to facilitate peace.
However, the DRC, the United States, and UN experts consistently accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion. According to UN estimates, the group has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters today. More than 100 armed groups vie for control of the mineral-rich eastern Congo, with M23 being the most prominent.
The protracted conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The UN refugee agency reports that over 7 million people are now displaced within the country. Despite the signed peace deal and ongoing negotiations, fighting continues on multiple fronts in eastern Congo, claiming numerous civilian and military casualties daily.
