As South Kivu province had spent several days gripped by fear and growing insecurity, news announced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, sparked debate and cautious hope among residents: the AFC/M23 coalition began withdrawing its forces from the city of Uvira.
The announcement was officially confirmed by the AFC/M23 military spokesperson, Lt. Willy Ngoma, through a message posted on his X account, where he stated that the decision was taken “for reasons of peace.”
He said: “As of this afternoon, our forces have begun withdrawing from the city of Uvira in order to support the peace process.”
Later in the evening, videos shared by journalist Steve Wembi showed a long convoy of AFC/M23 soldiers leaving the city, providing tangible evidence that the announcement was indeed being implemented.
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This decision to withdraw from Uvira did not come as a surprise to those closely following developments in eastern Congo. On Monday, December 15, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition, which includes AFC/M23, had already announced plans to pull its forces out of this strategic city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the coalition, presented the move as a confidence-building measure and a concrete contribution to the peace talks that were ongoing in Doha, Qatar. He explained that the decision was based on the core principles of the peace framework signed in Doha on November 15, 2025, which aimed to lay a new foundation for finding a lasting solution to the long-running conflict in eastern DRC.
According to Nangaa’s statement, the decision to vacate Uvira was taken at the request of international mediators, particularly the United States. The main objective, as outlined, was to reduce fighting and hostilities, establish reliable mechanisms to protect civilians, and restore confidence in the political dialogue process.
The United States has in recent days reiterated its strong interest in ensuring that peace agreements between the Congolese government and all concerned parties are respected, especially to prevent the eastern conflict from further destabilizing the wider region.
Despite presenting the withdrawal as a step toward peace, AFC/M23 was quick to express its concerns based on past experience. The coalition argues that in previous instances, its withdrawals from certain areas were exploited by the Congolese army (FARDC), Wazalendo groups, and their allies.
According to AFC/M23, areas it vacated were often swiftly reoccupied by FARDC and allied forces, followed by acts of retaliation, particularly against civilians suspected of supporting the movement. This history, the coalition says, explains why leaving Uvira is not a simple gesture but a serious test of the genuine commitment of all parties to peace.
Because of these concerns, AFC/M23 has called on mediators to put in place clear and effective security measures to manage Uvira after its withdrawal. These measures include the demilitarization of the city, the protection of civilians and key infrastructure such as the port, hospitals, and communication routes, as well as the monitoring of the ceasefire through the deployment of neutral forces.
The coalition emphasized that no lasting peace is possible if civilian security is not guaranteed, warning that failure to protect Uvira could undermine the Doha talks.
Uvira is one of the most important cities in eastern DRC, both economically and in terms of trade and security. On December 9, 2025, AFC/M23 had taken control of the city after pushing out a coalition of forces fighting on the side of the Congolese government. At the time, the capture of Uvira raised serious concerns across the region, particularly in neighboring countries such as Burundi and Rwanda.
The beginning of the AFC/M23 withdrawal from Uvira is seen by some analysts as a significant step that could open the door to peace, while others view it as a major test of the Congolese government’s willingness, and that of its allies, to genuinely commit to the peace process.
