The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached a critical and alarming point as rebel forces pushed into Uvira, the last major city in the region still under government control. Residents reported heavy artillery fire and bursts of gunshots as fighters from the M23 rebel group advanced into the city on Wednesday, prompting thousands of people to flee toward the Burundian border.
Witness accounts paint a picture of a city overwhelmed by fear. Explosions echoed from surrounding hills. Shops and schools shut down. Families hid under beds, unsure of whether to run or stay inside. Several residents told international media that the rebels marched into Uvira in a single file with no resistance from government troops, suggesting a rapid and uncontested entry into the city.
This dramatic escalation comes only days after a peace agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The deal was meant to halt the long running conflict fuelled by dozens of armed groups vying for control of the mineral rich territories along the Rwanda and Burundi borders. Despite the agreement, the M23 rebels claim they have now “liberated” Uvira, a strategic city situated just 27 kilometres from Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura.
Contradictions continue to cloud the situation. While residents and local media report rebel presence on major streets, South Kivu Governor Jean Jacques Purusi insists that government troops and allied militia still control the city. The uncertainty has heightened tension, as the Burundian military quickly shut the border, fearing spillover violence.
Some residents reportedly welcomed the rebels, a reflection of the deep political divides and frustrations among communities living in a region long neglected by the central government. Others, however, described the scene as catastrophic. One resident told reporters that three bombs had exploded in the surrounding hills, leaving people scrambling for safety.
Local rights groups warn that the situation could quickly deteriorate. If government soldiers attempt to retake the city or mount a strong resistance, they say, the civilian population could face grave danger. “There is a risk of a massacre,” a rights official told international reporters, noting the disorganized and chaotic state of the security forces in the area.
A Burundian army officer reviewing the border situation described Uvira as “done for,” a stark indication of how dire tensions have become. For thousands now displaced and for those trapped inside the city, the immediate future remains uncertain.
As the crisis deepens, the international community will be closely watching whether the peace deal can survive this latest collapse on the ground or whether eastern DR Congo is sliding into yet another prolonged and devastating chapter of conflict.
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