2025 Uvira offensive
| Uvira offensive | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the M23 campaign | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Belligerents | ||||||||
 Rwanda (Congolese claim) | Wazalendo | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
Corneille Nangaa  Sultani Makenga[4] |
 Felix Tshisekedi Jean-Jacques Purusi (Governor of South Kivu)[5] | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | ||||||||
| M23 forces | FARDC | Wazalendo militias | ||||||
| 30+ civilian deaths | ||||||||
The 2025 Uvira offensive is an ongoing military operation conducted by March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), centered around their advance toward Uvira located at the northern end of Lake Tanganyika. The military campaign followed the rebels' capture of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, and occurred concurrently with advances towards Butembo in the neighboring North Kivu province.[6]
Background
[edit]Uvira, situated along Lake Tanganyika approximately 25 kilometers from Bujumbura, Burundi, serves as South Kivu's second-largest urban center. The city's strategic location near the Burundian border makes it a crucial point for regional security and refugee movements. Prior to the clashes, the city had received an influx of displaced officials and military personnel following the March 23 Movement (M23)'s capture of Bukavu.[7] The withdrawal of leadership and security forces led to widespread disorder and armed confrontations with allied militia groups in Bukavu.[8]
Burundi reported the arrival of approximately 10,000 refugees between February 14–16, 2025. These displaced persons were initially accommodated in temporary facilities within Burundi's Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, pending relocation away from the border region in accordance with Burundian regulations. Burundian authorities implemented measures to distinguish between civilian refugees and military personnel among the arrivals.[7]
Offensive
[edit]Strategic withdrawal from Bukavu
[edit]The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) strategically withdrew from Bukavu starting on February 14, 2025, aiming to establish defensive positions outside the city while minimizing civilian casualties.[7][8][9] However, this plan faced opposition from allied militia groups, particularly the Wazalendo, who advocated for maintaining defensive positions within the city. The withdrawal precipitated violent confrontations between retreating FARDC forces and Wazalendo militia groups along the N5 highway south of Bukavu. Senior military sources reported widespread demoralization among troops following repeated operational failures and territorial losses. Attempts to establish defensive positions were further complicated by instances of soldiers abandoning their positions and engaging in looting during the strategic withdrawal.[8]
FARDC–Wazalendo clashes
[edit]From February 15–17, 2025, during the withdrawal and during M23 advances, armed confrontations erupted between FARDC forces and Wazalendo fighters, resulting in twelve fatalities among both military personnel and civilians. The conflict reportedly originated from the Wazalendo's attempt to acquire military equipment from FARDC soldiers who had retreated from Bukavu. When FARDC refused to relinquish their armaments, the situation escalated into armed violence.[7]
These clashes, occurring in settlements including Kamanyola, Sange, and Uvira, emerged when Wazalendo fighters attempted to prevent FARDC personnel from retreating or deserting. The situation was exacerbated by incidents of military equipment being seized and redistributed by militia forces.[8]
M23 advance
[edit]By February 18, M23 forces secured Kamanyola, a strategic location situated 25 kilometers south of Bukavu, after overwhelming the disorganized FARDC defensive positions. The capture of Kamanyola established a launching point for potential further advancement toward Uvira, located 75 kilometers to the south.[6] Social media documentation appeared to show some communities, particularly in the Panzi region south of Bukavu, welcoming advancing M23 forces.[7]
On February 19, Médecins Sans Frontières reported that combat occurred along stretches of the N5 highway from Bukavu to Uvira, leading to dozens of injuries.[10] Many FARDC soldiers took control of boats so they could flee across Lake Tanganyika. Guns were fired while citizens tried to get onto the boats. A prison in Uvira was broken into, freeing 228 FARDC soldiers who had been detained for desertion.[11]
During M23 forces' advances, Burundi initiated the withdrawal of its military forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, ending a long-term military presence in the region. Multiple military vehicles crossed back into Burundi from South Kivu, though some troops remained temporarily stationed near the border region.[12]
Responses
[edit]Domestic
[edit]Armed clashes between FARDC and Wazalendo forces led to a widespread shutdown of civilian activities in Uvira. Educational institutions and commercial establishments ceased operations, while vehicular and pedestrian movement effectively came to standstill. Local governance structures were significantly impacted, with reports indicating that administrative leadership had relocated to either Kalemie or Bujumbura.[7] A general hospital in Uviru reported receiving dozens of injuries from troops and civilians.[13]
President Félix Tshisekedi, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticized the international community's limited response to Rwanda's alleged involvement, and accused former president Joseph Kabila of supporting opposing forces.[14]
Humanitarian crisis
[edit]Escalation of violence and looting on February 15 resulted in at least eighteen direct fatalities, and triggered a mass exodus of local populations. The conflict particularly affected communities situated between Kamanyola and Sange, where an estimated 70 percent of the village populations abandoned their homes. Roughly 25,000 internally displaced persons had already sought refuge in Uvira prior to the February escalations, with the actual number likely exceeding official estimates, as security conditions prevented comprehensive assessments. Several fatalities occurred during attempted crossings of the Ruzizi River, including several children who drowned while attempting to reach safety in Burundi.[15][16] By February 18, between 10,000 and 15,000 Congolese civilians fled to Burundi, leading to severe strain on Burundian transit facilities and resources.[12]
Multiple humanitarian aid organizations were forced to evacuate their personnel.[15]
Widespread civil disorder arose across Uvira. By February 19, At least thirty fatalities were reported in one morgue, along with 100 hospitalizations. Several instances of looting and volleys of gunfire were also reported.[11]
International
[edit]The offensive prompted international diplomatic reactions. On February 18, Foreign Office of the United Kingdom summoned Rwanda's ambassador in London. The office issued a statement condemning the territorial gains as violations of Congolese sovereignty and demanding the withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Force personnel from Congolese territory. On the same day, the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk accused M23 of summarily killing children, attacking hospitals, and raiding and warehouses containing humanitarian aid.[6] UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged against further regional escalation.[14]
The African Union expressed concern about potential "balkanization" of the DRC, and called for M23's immediate withdrawal. France's Foreign Ministry demanded the withdrawal of both M23 and Rwandan forces, threatening additional multilateral sanctions against both parties.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Residents say Rwanda-backed rebels are advancing on a third city in eastern Congo". The Washington Post. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19
- ^ "As Congo army retreats from Bukavu, children pick up guns and get killed". Reuters. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19
- ^ "Africa File, February 20, 2025: M23 Advance Continues Unchallenged; SAF Grows Partnerships with Iran and Russia; RSF Creates Parallel Government in Sudan".ISW. 2025-02-20. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ "Sultani Makenga: The M23 leader whose career charts the turmoil in Rwanda and DR Congo". BBC News.
- ^ "DR Congo's M23 rebels enter centre of strategic city Bukavu". Al Jazeera English.
- ^ a b c "Residents say Rwanda-backed rebels are advancing on a third city in eastern Congo". AP News. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "Uvira: Abatuye uyu mujyi wa kabiri wa Kivu y'Epfo bavuga ko nta mutekano uhari". BBC News Gahuza (in Kinyarwanda). 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b c d Rolley, Sonia (18 February 2025). "Congo army retreat from Bukavu leads to clashes with allied militias". Reuters. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "After Goma, DRC's Bukavu falls under M23 rebels' control". 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "DRC: Treating the injured as the conflict expands | MSF Australia". msf.org.au. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b "Rebel advance causes panic in Congolese border town Uvira". Reuters. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Burundi troops withdraw in eastern Congo as M23 rebels expand reach, sources say". Reuters. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "DRC: MSF adapts response as violence spreads in South Kivu". WebWire. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b c "After Goma, DRC's Bukavu falls under M23 rebels' control". 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b "West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (11 - 17 February 2025) - Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ Keane, Cliona (2025-02-18). "Update on the Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo". SOS Children's Villages. Retrieved 2025-02-19.