M23 advance on Uvira, South Kivu’s second largest City

The M23 rebel group has begun advancing toward the city of Uvira, the second largest urban center in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) South Kivu Province — a move that signals a potential plan to capture the city.

Armed fighters from the group were first spotted on Thursday in the surrounding areas of Katogota and Luvungi, both located near Uvira. Reports from Friday indicate that the M23 forces have pushed further ahead and are now tightening their grip around the city.

Uvira sits on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and has been under the protection of government forces from the DRC (FARDC), Burundian troops, and local Wazalendo militia since February of this year. These forces retreated there after being driven out of Bukavu — South Kivu’s largest city — following fierce clashes with the M23.

The rebel group’s offensive on Uvira comes at a time when peace talks are ongoing between M23 and the Congolese government in Doha, Qatar. These negotiations aim to resolve the conflict that has persisted for over three years.

The escalating situation raises concerns about the stability of the region and the future of the Doha peace process.