5 months ago
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Violent warring broke retired Saturday (January 3, 2026) betwixt the Rwandan-backed M23 equipped radical and pro-Kinshasa forces successful respective towns astir the strategical eastbound DR Congo metropolis of Uvira, section sources said.
The resource-rich eastbound of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which borders Rwanda arsenic good arsenic Burundi, has been beset by 30 years of continual violence.
The concern has worsened since 2021 amid the resurgence of the M23.
Having seized the 2 main eastbound cities of Goma and Bukavu precocious past year, the radical launched a caller violative successful December successful South Kivu state and gained power connected December 10 of Uvira, a strategical metropolis of respective 100 1000 radical adjacent Burundi, DRC's ally.
The radical besides took power of borderline areas astatine a clip erstwhile the DRC and Rwanda were signing a bid accord successful Washington, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Since 3 americium (0100 GMT), convulsive clashes betwixt M23 rebels and Wazalendo (pro-Kinshasa militias) and the equipped forces of the Republic person been reported successful respective localities successful the territory of Uvira," successful South Kivu province, Kelvin Bwija, Uvira civilian nine coordinator, told AFP.
Bwija cited the localities of Kashombe, Lubanda, Musingwe, Katongo, and Kigongo, located astir 10 kilometers from the metropolis arsenic seeing fighting.
"So far, the dependable of gunfire tin beryllium heard successful Uvira," helium said.
A nonmigratory of Kigongo, besides reached by telephone, confirmed to AFP that "clashes resumed this morning, with large explosions and gunfire" heard.
Lieutenant Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji, determination spokesperson for the Congolese service (FARDC), confirmed to AFP "clashes successful Kigongo and Katongo, specifically successful the hills of Kashombe and Lubanda successful the territory of Uvira."
Under US pressure, the M23 announced connected December 17 its withdrawal from Uvira, portion asking mediators to guarantee the city's extortion from unit and "remilitarisation."
There person besides been reports of aggravated warring successful the neighbouring state of North Kivu since Friday, wherever astatine slightest six radical were killed and 41 wounded successful a bombing attributed to the Congolese service successful Masisi territory successful North Kivu province, according to section sources.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) meantime stated connected societal media that "42 people, including galore children and women, wounded by shrapnel and suffering from different injuries, were admitted to Masisi General Hospital pursuing an aerial onslaught successful a residential country of Masisi".
MSF added that 2 had since died.
str-mbb/cw/ach
