As the war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to escalate, conflicting statements about what happened in the city of Uvira are fueling confusion and deepening political and diplomatic tensions across the Great Lakes region.
President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi said that the capture of Uvira by AFC/M23 was not the result of the defeat of government forces, but rather a consequence of a deliberate decision taken by the coalition of Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and Burundi’s National Defense Forces (FDNB) to tactically withdraw in order to protect civilians.
Tshisekedi made these remarks on Sunday, December 21, 2025, during a speech delivered to regional heads of state attending a special security summit held in Entebbe, Uganda, at the invitation of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“This Was Not a Surrender, but the Protection of Civilians”
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In his address, the Congolese president explained that the decision to pull back was taken after government forces realized that the fighting involved the use of indiscriminate weapons, including kamikaze suicide drones, which could have caused heavy civilian casualties in the city of Uvira.
He stated that the withdrawal “was not a surrender or an admission of weakness, but a decision aimed at safeguarding the lives of civilian populations.”
Tshisekedi’s comments come as analysts point out that Uvira holds major military and economic significance, as it lies along the border with Burundi and on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
During the same meeting, Tshisekedi once again accused Rwanda of violating the peace agreement signed by both countries in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 2025, in the presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
He claimed that less than 48 hours after signing the agreement with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the city of Uvira was taken by “Rwandan forces in alliance with M23,” an act he said violated the agreed ceasefire, international agreements under the United Nations and the African Union, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2773.
These statements have further strained relations between the two countries, at a time when peace talks intended to end the conflict were still in their early stages.
On December 9, 2025, AFC/M23 announced that it had captured the city of Uvira, forcing out the coalition of Congolese government forces, including FARDC and Burundi’s FDNB.
A few days later, on December 17, AFC/M23 declared that it had decided to withdraw from the city, saying the move was intended to comply with decisions reached during peace talks. However, the Congolese government rejected this claim.
The Congolese army said it does not recognize AFC/M23’s announcement that it had withdrawn from Uvira. On Saturday, December 20, FARDC spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge stated on national television (RTNC) that such claims “have no connection whatsoever with the reality on the ground.”
He added, “M23 fighters did not return to the positions they occupied before taking Uvira. If this were a genuine withdrawal, that is where they would have gone back.”
Ekenge said this was further proof of what he described as Rwanda’s “clear hypocrisy” in honoring the Washington peace agreement, again accusing Kigali of supporting AFC/M23.
On the AFC/M23 side, one of its spokespersons, Oscar Balinda, dismissed FARDC’s statements. Speaking to the BBC, Balinda said their forces had indeed withdrawn from Uvira and that international media were present to observe the situation firsthand.
He said, “That is what they claim. Let them come and show evidence. We know that we withdrew. Al Jazeera, BBC, and AFP are all there, watching our forces leave.”
Balinda added that AFC/M23 fighters were currently on the move toward another location, but declined to disclose where they were, citing security reasons.
