Residents of Uvira, a strategic city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), remain on edge after the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) rebel group announced a renewed withdrawal from the area, once again placing the city’s future in uncertainty.
In a statement reported, the armed group said it would place Uvira “under the responsibility of the international community,” a move that has raised questions about security arrangements and governance in the city following weeks of tension and sporadic violence.
Uvira, located near the border with Burundi and close to Lake Tanganyika, is a key commercial and transit hub in South Kivu province. Control of the city carries both strategic and symbolic weight in the wider conflict that has gripped eastern DRC for years.
The withdrawal announcement comes amid heightened regional and international scrutiny of the M23 rebellion, which Kinshasa accuses of being backed by Rwanda, allegations Kigali continues to deny. Previous declarations of withdrawal by the group in other areas have been followed by renewed clashes or security vacuums, deepening distrust among local populations.
Humanitarian actors have warned that repeated shifts in control exacerbate civilian suffering. Thousands of residents in and around Uvira have already been displaced by fighting, with aid agencies struggling to operate safely amid unclear lines of authority.
Congolese authorities have not immediately detailed how security will be guaranteed following the rebels’ announcement, while the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) and regional forces under the East African Community have previously faced criticism over their effectiveness in stabilising contested areas.
For many residents, the latest statement offers little reassurance. Past experiences have shown that withdrawals do not always translate into lasting calm, leaving civilians caught between armed groups, overstretched state forces and international actors.
As the situation evolves, attention is once again focused on whether international and regional partners can prevent a security vacuum in Uvira and protect civilians in a region already scarred by decades of conflict.
