The Congolese army on Monday regained full control of the strategic town of Uvira, capital of the South Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the rebel threat remains present. AFC/M23 fighters are still believed to be positioned on the heights of Kabunambo, less than a kilometer north of the city center, a presence that continues to worry residents.
The Congolese Armed Forces continue their deployment in the city and its surroundings in order to consolidate their positions and sustainably secure the area.
The capture of Uvira by the M23 took place shortly after the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, under the aegis of American President Donald Trump. On December 17, the armed group announced the withdrawal of its troops from the city, while maintaining positions in the surrounding area.
On Thursday, the M23 once again affirmed that it wanted to withdraw its last forces and place Uvira "under the total and complete responsibility of the international community".
But for the governor of the province, it is a "false withdrawal". According to testimonies from residents, many AFC/M23 fighters remain deployed in several localities in the Ruzizi plain.
