Rebel fighters have reportedly pushed into Uvira — the last major city in government hands in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — triggering mass panic and a wave of civilians fleeing into neighbouring Burundi. Residents described heavy gunfire, explosions in surrounding hills, and a city plunged into fear.
Witnesses told local and international media that M23 rebels marched into Uvira in a single column from the north-east, meeting no military resistance. Some residents even cheered their arrival, though most immediately went into hiding as shops, markets, and schools shut down.
“These bombs just exploded on the hills… everyone is on their own,” one terrified resident said. Another added: “We are all under our beds — that is the reality.”
Government Denies Losing Control
Despite widespread reports of rebel presence, South Kivu’s Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi insisted that the Congolese army and allied militia still hold the city.
Uvira sits just 27km across Lake Tanganyika from Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura — a location that has raised fears of regional spillover.
Burundi responded to the fighting by closing its border with DR Congo. Its military said thousands had already crossed seeking safety.
A local human rights monitor warned of a possible “massacre” if remaining soldiers attempt a last-ditch defence.
Peace Deal Already Under Threat
The escalation comes barely a week after a peace agreement brokered in Washington by President Donald Trump, bringing together DR Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in a bid to end the long-running conflict in the region.
Burundi’s foreign minister described the M23 advance as “a slap in the face” to the US-backed deal, calling it a humiliation for all parties involved.
Burundian intelligence sources also claimed that fresh reinforcements had crossed from Rwanda into Congo — a claim Rwanda flatly denies.
International Pressure Mounts on Rwanda
The United States, the European Union, and several European states issued a joint call on Tuesday urging an immediate halt to the fighting.
They accused Rwanda of actively supporting the M23 offensive and demanded that the Rwanda Defence Force withdraw its troops from eastern DR Congo.
A US State Department spokesperson reiterated that Rwanda “continues to provide support to M23 and must prevent further escalation.”
Kigali rejected all accusations, accusing the Congolese and Burundian armies of violating the ceasefire and carrying out cross-border shelling of villages near Rwanda.
A Conflict With Regional Shockwaves
Burundi has deployed several thousand troops in eastern DR Congo to back the government — making the rebel advance into Uvira a direct threat to regional security.
Analysts warn the fall of Uvira, if confirmed, would be one of the most significant rebel victories in years and could unravel the new peace agreement before implementation even begins.
For many residents trapped in the city, the situation is simple and dire:
“No one is in charge. Uvira is gone,” a Burundian officer said.