The leadership of the AFC/M23 coalition, which includes M23 and Twirwaneho, has announced that M23 soldiers are prepared to capture the city of Uvira, where the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has relocated the provincial headquarters of South Kivu.
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This statement was made by Dr. Oscar Barinda, the Deputy Spokesperson of AFC/M23 for Political Affairs, during an interview with BMC Africa’s YouTube channel.
In the interview, Dr. Barinda was asked what steps they could take to assist the people of Uvira and the Banyamulenge communities living in Rugezi, Cyohagati, Minembwe, Mikenke, and Rurambo, who continue to suffer frequent attacks, both during the day and at night.
In response, he said: “What I can tell our brothers and sisters in Minembwe is that the time has come, just as a pot finishes cooking at the right time. The fire is burning, and it won’t be long before we reach them.”
He gave the example of a time when they were still based in the forests and declared they would capture Goma, a claim that many people initially did not believe — yet it eventually came to pass.
Dr. Barinda confirmed that, once again, there is reason for hope, especially because they are people of prayer, and he took the opportunity to encourage the population to continue to have faith.
He stated: “The days to capture Uvira are numbered.”
He also reassured the Banyamulenge, saying they are well-known to the coalition and that the leadership stands with them during these difficult times, which is why they played a role in releasing a statement condemning the violence being committed against them.
He added that they have both the will and the capacity to solve their own problems, especially since international organizations have done nothing to help them.
He said: “The Banyamulenge should know that we are about to come to their rescue very soon.”
Dr. Barinda made these remarks at a time when residents of Uvira are reportedly being severely mistreated by soldiers of the Congolese government, as well as by Burundian troops, FDLR, and Wazalendo militias, who are robbing and killing civilians.
He further declared that the current situation is no longer a time to keep asking the Congolese government to resolve the root causes of the war in the east of the country — instead, he said, they have decided to take matters into their own hands, whether President Tshisekedi agrees or not.
The coalition of armed groups within AFC/M23, including M23 and Twirwaneho fighters, continues to control large areas of Eastern Congo. Meanwhile, the Congolese government controls only a few remaining areas, which are relatively small compared to those under the coalition’s control.
