The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) has announced that it has regained control of the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, stating that its troops have been in full control of the city since Sunday, January 18, 2026.
In an official statement, the Congolese army said the takeover followed the withdrawal of fighters from the AFC/M23, who are now reportedly positioned in the areas of Sange and Luvungi, slightly more than ten kilometers north of Uvira.
Speaking on Monday, Oscar Balinda, spokesperson for the AFC/M23, declined to disclose the exact location of the group’s fighters who left the city, saying only that “they are still on the move.” On the ground, however, the situation remains tense. A resident of Uvira told Afrovera.com (Bukavu) that while many residents welcomed the return of the national army, insecurity persists.
“People are relieved to see the FARDC back, but since their arrival we continue to hear gunfire, even today,” the resident said.
The FARDC has accused the AFC/M23 whom it claims is supported by the army of Rwanda of carrying out acts of destruction and looting before withdrawing from Uvira. These allegations have been firmly denied by Oscar Balinda, who maintains that “everything presented as having been looted is still in place.”
The Congolese army also stated that around twenty civilians suspected of involvement in looting and acts disrupting public order have been arrested and will be brought before the courts.
Another Uvira resident, speaking anonymously, told Afrovera.com that several public buildings were targeted during the looting, including municipal offices, the military court, and the Suzanna Hotel, owned by a well-known local businessman popularly known as Muchepe.
According to this witness, the looting occurred in two distinct phases.
“First, AFC/M23 elements looted nearly everything of value in the city, including vehicles. The second phase of looting was carried out by Wazalendo fighters and some civilians,” the resident said. Responding to these accusations, the AFC/M23 spokesperson dismissed them as “false allegations,” arguing that items cited such as materials intended for road construction were verified and found to be intact.
In its statement, the Congolese army said it is continuing operations to consolidate its positions in Uvira and surrounding areas in order to strengthen security for civilians and their property.
For his part, Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the AFC/M23, claimed that since the return of the FARDC and Wazalendo groups to Uvira, “the city has become a hotspot of fighting, violence, looting, and hate speech.”
Government authorities have meanwhile urged the population to remain calm and to refrain from any acts of violence based on ethnic grounds.
Despite the prevailing tension, signs of a partial return to normal life have been observed. Residents say commercial activities, markets, and the movement of people and vehicles have gradually resumed. Schools, however, remain closed, with their reopening dependent on the effective deployment of state administrative authorities.
“What remains deeply worrying is the continued gunfire,” another resident said. “Even when moving around the city, you still hear shots. Many people do not understand why this is happening when the AFC/M23 is no longer present in Uvira.”
At the end of last year, the AFC/M23 took control of Uvira, triggering widespread controversy, particularly because the takeover came shortly after the signing of the Washington peace agreement between Kigali and Kinshasa under U.S. mediation.
Five days later, the group announced its withdrawal from the city, citing a request from the U.S. mediator and calling for Uvira to be administered by neutral forces—an option rejected by the Congolese government.
On Saturday, the movement said it had withdrawn its last contingent of observers that had remained in charge of security in Uvira, calling on MONUSCO to deploy troops to protect the city. Early Sunday morning, fighters from local armed groups known as Wazalendo entered Uvira, followed later in the evening by the gradual arrival of FARDC troops.
As the security situation evolves on the ground, Congolese authorities have announced plans to convene inter-Congolese dialogue aimed at identifying lasting solutions to the crisis in the country’s eastern regions.
On the diplomatic front, consultations led by mediators from the African Union recently continued in Lomé, Togo. These efforts are expected to feed into renewed peace initiatives, with the aim of achieving sustainable stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
