M23 Rebels Seize Strategic City of Uvira in Eastern DR Congo

December 11, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke

The M23 rebel group has captured the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, following a night of heavy gunfire that forced Congolese army troops and allied forces to withdraw from the area.

Uvira, a key port city located on the northern edge of Lake Tanganyika, holds significant strategic importance due to its position directly across from Bujumbura, Burundi’s largest city.

Local reports suggested that the governor of South Kivu Province—where Uvira is located—had fled during the night. The governor has publicly denied the claim.

The takeover marks a further escalation of fighting in South Kivu, despite a recent deal signed in Washington in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at reducing tensions in the region.

This development comes months after M23 captured Goma and Bukavu, two major cities in eastern Congo, highlighting the rebel group’s continued advance and the growing instability in the region.