Uvira

Uvira is a strategic city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), located in the South Kivu province near the border with Burundi. It has recently been the epicenter of intense conflict involving the M23 rebel group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda. Beginning in early December 2025, M23 fighters launched an offensive, ultimately seizing control of Uvira despite a recent peace deal. This takeover resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Congolese civilians, many fleeing to Burundi as refugees, with reports of casualties and family separations. The M23's actions were condemned internationally, including by the US Secretary of State, who cited Rwanda's involvement as a violation of the peace agreement. Under pressure from international mediators and the US, the M23 voluntarily withdrew from Uvira in mid-December 2025. By late February 2026, the border with Burundi reopened, allowing some of the displaced Congolese to return to Uvira.