The M23 rebel group announced on Wednesday that it had captured the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, following a rapid offensive that began earlier this month.
Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka shared the news on X, urging residents who had fled the city to return to their homes.
Situated on the border with Burundi, Uvira has become a key stronghold in South Kivu after M23 took control of Bukavu, the provincial capital, in February.
Residents of Uvira described a chaotic night on Wednesday as Congolese army troops retreated and gunfire echoed across the city.
The M23 advance comes despite a US-mediated peace agreement signed last week in Washington by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda, which US President Donald Trump called “historic.”
The agreement did not involve the rebel group directly, though it requires Rwanda to stop supporting armed factions and work to end the fighting.
On Monday, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of violating the terms of the Washington peace accord.
United Nations partners report that since 2 December, over 200,000 people have been displaced in South Kivu, with more than 70 fatalities recorded.
