The leader of the AFC/M23 coalition, Corneille Nangaa, has confirmed that M23 fighters have entered the city of Uvira, saying the move was aimed at restoring security after residents from the area allegedly called on him for help.
Nangaa made the remarks during a press conference held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in Goma, North Kivu.
On Tuesday evening, local media and residents in Uvira reported that soldiers from the Congolese army (FARDC), Burundian troops, and Wazalendo militias had abandoned their positions and fled the city in South Kivu — a development that raised alarm within the Congolese government.
Nangaa confirmed that AFC/M23 forces entered Uvira overnight, stating that the operation was intended to stabilize the situation after receiving appeals from civilians.
He accused the Congolese government of violating the ceasefire, saying the AFC/M23 had respected the agreement in the hope that civilians would finally get relief, only for Kinshasa to escalate tensions.
“We in AFC/M23 respected the ceasefire, but the DRC government chose to drag us back into conflict, believing they could defeat us,” he said.
Nangaa alleged that in recent days Burundian troops fighting alongside FARDC had heavily bombarded areas under M23 control, calling on the international community to investigate what he described as the DRC’s push for war.
“We inform the international community that since President Tshisekedi signed the ceasefire, he has not respected it. Instead, attacks have intensified, killing around 100 civilians. The images you saw showed the suffering caused by Burundian forces,” he added.
He said the AFC/M23’s latest operations involved driving out the forces that were allegedly abusing civilians and pushing them far from populated areas to allow residents to regain a sense of safety.
Nangaa further claimed that FARDC soldiers who fled were welcomed by civilians without being attacked, while Wazalendo militias remained behind “pursuing their own interests.”
He again rejected accusations that Rwanda provides support to M23, insisting the group has no reason to clash with Burundi, as “their issues lie within the DRC.”
Nangaa urged the Burundian government to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory, saying AFC/M23 does not want Uvira or South Kivu to become another battleground involving foreign countries.
