Gunfire Engulfs DR Congo City As M23 Rebels Advance

Gunfire and explosions have been heard around Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as M23 fighters push towards the strategic city, sparking mass displacement across the border into Burundi.

Local residents and military sources say government troops are retreating as the rebel force advances on Uvira — the last major urban centre still controlled by state forces in the resource-rich area.

The escalation comes just a week after US President Donald Trump mediated an agreement between DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, aimed at ending the long-running conflict. Despite the deal, clashes have continued on the ground.

Businesses and schools have shut down, and many people are sheltering indoors amid reports that rebels may have seized parts of the city. South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi dismissed those claims as “baseless rumours”.

Residents reported that Uvira was effectively under lockdown, with gunfire heard on Wednesday in the city, which lies just 27 km (17 miles) from Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura. Some local activists warned of a possible large-scale killing if the remaining government troops attempt to hold their positions.

Military sources say M23 fighters are advancing from the north, close to the border. Purusi insisted in an interview that Uvira remains under government control.

The United States, the European Union and several European governments have accused Rwanda of backing the offensive. In a joint message, they expressed serious concern over the situation and said the fighting could destabilise the wider region. They urged Rwanda’s army to stop operations in eastern DR Congo and withdraw its forces.

The US State Department said Rwanda continues to support M23 and must avoid further escalation. Rwanda has denied the allegation, accusing DR Congo and Burundi of breaking the ceasefire by bombing villages along the shared border. It said the responsibility cannot be placed on Rwanda.

UN investigators say the Rwandan military is effectively directing M23’s military campaign.

The UN estimates about 200,000 people have been displaced in eastern DR Congo since the latest clashes erupted earlier this month. At least 74 people — mostly civilians — have been killed, while dozens more have been hospitalised. Officials in Burundi say more than 30,000 people crossed the border in a single week.

This latest offensive comes nearly a year after M23 seized control of Goma and Bukavu — two other major cities in eastern DR Congo. The group was not included in the peace agreement mediated by Washington, and is instead engaged in separate talks with the Congolese government, supported by Qatar.

In a national speech on Monday, President Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of intentionally breaching the peace accord, calling the conflict a proxy campaign aimed at securing control of areas rich in valuable minerals that are vital to DR Congo’s economic future.

Rwanda has countered by accusing the Congolese and Burundian armies of striking communities near its borders, which it says forced more than a thousand people to cross into Rwanda seeking safety.

Eastern DR Congo has faced recurring violence for more than three decades, dating back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Numerous peace initiatives since the 1990s have collapsed, as armed groups and government forces continue to contest political influence and control of highly valuable natural resources.