Calm has returned to the city of Uvira in South Kivu province following deadly clashes on Sunday that left 12 people dead, including both civilians and soldiers, according to Radio Okapi.
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The fighting erupted between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and an armed group known as Wazalendo. On Sunday, social media platforms circulated footage captured by a government soldier, showing the devastation within their ranks following the battle with Wazalendo.
A resident of Uvira told the KIVUPRIDE.COM on Monday that the security situation in the city remained precarious. He stated, “Wazalendo and FARDC were fighting. Wazalendo requested weapons to combat the M23 rebels, but FARDC refused to supply them, which led to Sunday’s confrontation.”
The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, further described the situation: “Afterward, there was a brief ceasefire today [Monday], but the streets are empty. There are no vehicles or pedestrians; everything is at a standstill. There is no peace. Schools are closed, businesses are shut down, and people are living in fear.”
Serge Kigwati, head of the civil society in the area, confirmed that the clashes in Uvira were triggered by an attempt by Wazalendo to disarm FARDC soldiers retreating from Bukavu. FARDC resisted, resulting in violent skirmishes.
Kigwati noted that while relative calm had returned by Monday, the situation in Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu province, remained tense.
A local resident told the KIVUPRIDE.COM that “there is no longer any effective governance in Uvira. Authorities have fled to Kalemie and Bujumbura, leaving behind only the name of governance.”
Reports indicate that officials of South Kivu province, who were based in Bukavu, sought refuge in Uvira before the city came under attack last weekend. The KIVUPRIDE.COM could not independently verify claims that they had since moved to Kalemie and Bujumbura.
Meanwhile, various reports suggest that M23 fighters continue advancing southward from Bukavu toward Uvira. However, these claims have not been confirmed by the rebel group.
Some videos shared on social media depict residents of Panzi, south of Bukavu, welcoming the advancing M23 fighters. Other footage taken by locals purportedly shows these fighters reaching Nyangezi, a location along the route to Uvira.
Uvira, situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, lies just 25 kilometers from Bujumbura, Burundi, across the Gatumba border.
Burundi has reported that between Friday and Sunday of the past week alone, it received approximately 10,000 refugees. These individuals were relocated to temporary camps in the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza before being moved further from the border in accordance with legal regulations.
Burundi’s Minister of Interior stated that among these refugees, authorities would conduct screening to separate civilians from soldiers who might be among them.
