At least 74 civilians have been killed this December following intense fighting between the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
According to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the clashes, which began on December 2, 2025, have swept across multiple areas in Uvira Territory, including Katogota, Lubalika, Luvungi, Bwegera, Mutalule, Nyakabere, Kyanyunda, Sange, Kabunambo, Luningu, Kiliba, Kahwizi, and Kala.
Most of these areas have reportedly fallen under rebel control. On Wednesday, M23 announced that it had also captured the city of Uvira. In a statement, Bruno Lemarquis, the UN humanitarian coordinator in DRC and acting head of MONUSCO, confirmed that in addition to the 74 fatalities, 83 civilians had been injured.
Lemarquis said the fighting has caused a rapid deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation. More than 200,000 people have been displaced within South Kivu Province, while thousands more have fled into Burundi and Rwanda to escape the violence.
He added that the December 4, 2025 peace agreement signed in Washington between the Congolese and Rwandan governments offers a “glimmer of hope,” but its success hinges on an immediate halt to hostilities. Humanitarian agencies, he said, are prepared to respond as soon as conditions allow.
The Congolese government has yet to issue a statement regarding the rebel advance toward Uvira or MONUSCO’s assessment. The M23/AFC leadership has also not directly addressed the UN’s remarks.
However, on Wednesday night, M23’s political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement confirming the takeover of Uvira, describing it as a “liberation” and urging displaced residents to return home.
“The AFC/M23 informs the public that, for more than three months, it has been denouncing the spread of hate speech, attacks targeting our compatriots because of their appearance, as well as massacres committed in areas liberated by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime and their ally, Burundi. Today, the threat has been lifted, and we confirm that the city of Uvira is now liberated,” said Kanyuka
Throughout 2025, M23 has captured several major towns, critical transport corridors, and the region’s two main airports. Since the group’s resurgence in 2022 under leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the rebels, an allegation denied by both Rwanda and M23.
The rebel movement maintains that its objective is to combat corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Congolese political system. This year, M23 has mounted one of its largest offensives yet, seizing several key cities across eastern Congo and stoking fears of a wider regional conflict.
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