Residents of Uvira City took to the streets in form of protest after the AFC/M23 Coalition announced that it would withdraw from the city after having occupied it for a few days. They expressed their dissatisfaction with this decision, calling for the coalition to remain.
The announcement was made by AFC/M23 in a statement released late Tuesday night, December 16,2025, stating that the coalition agreed to removes it forces from Uvira after a request from mediators from the United States of America.
According to the information released this morning by Lawrence Kanyuka, AFC/M23’s political spokesperson, in the morning hours of Tuesday, “the population, in every corner of the city, is demonstrating its solidarity with the AFC/M23.”
Footage released by Kanyuka shows Uvira residents taking part in protests, demanding that the coalition not leave the city.
In its statement, AFC/M23 said that although it agreed to withdraw from Uvira, there have been incidents in areas it previously occupied, where FARDC forces and their allies, including Wazalendo, allegedly committed abuses and attacked residents. The coalition expressed its desire to prevent such incidents from happening again.
AFC/M23 further stated that measures will be put in place to prevent a recurrence of such problems, including deploying a neutral special force to protect the city’s residents and its infrastructure.
AFC/M23 stated that its decision to withdraw its forces from Uvira City is based on ongoing discussions the coalition is having with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It added that progress has already been made, including the signed agreements, and that it hopes to give these initiatives a chance to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict.
Uvira City was captured on 10, December,2025, after a heavy fighting between the coalition’s forces and the Congolese government forces, which were largely composed of Burundian troops. The latter encountered strong resistance and eventually retreated on foot back to their own country.
RADIOTV10
