Residents confirmed that Wazalendo fighters entered Uvira early Sunday morning, a day after AFC/M23 announced that it had fully withdrawn from the city. Footage circulating on social media shows armed fighters roaming the streets, with reports of looting and abuse against civilians, acts for which the group has previously been accused.
A former South Kivu official, now based in Kalemie, told the BBC that Wazalendo fighters had indeed returned to Uvira but said they were awaiting further instructions from their leadership.
'We must proceed with extreme caution,' he said. 'Our superiors are first verifying whether M23's claims are accurate.'
Despite the presence of Wazalendo fighters in the city, AFC/M23 said it had handed responsibility for Uvira's security to the international community and called for the protection of civilians.
In a letter dated January 15, 2026, addressed to the UN Secretary-General, AFC/M23 said it had for three days been urging the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to deploy forces to protect Uvira's population.
AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa said the group had decided to place Uvira 'under the full responsibility of the international community.'
He explained that a small AFC/M23 security unit had initially remained in the city to maintain oversight while awaiting the deployment of neutral forces, but that this unit also withdrew on January 15.
The group warned the United Nations that the presence of Burundian troops, the FDLR armed group, Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries posed a serious threat to civilians in Uvira.
'Their presence and activities not only endanger civilian lives but also undermine the ongoing peace process and regional stability,' AFC/M23 said.
The group called for the urgent deployment of neutral international forces to prevent Uvira from returning to the suffering it experienced when it was previously controlled by Congolese government-aligned forces.
AFC/M23 captured Uvira on December 9, 2025, following a week-long battle in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu province. The group said it withdrew at the request of the United States to allow peace negotiations to continue.
Washington had asked AFC/M23 to redeploy to positions approximately 75 kilometres from Uvira, assuring the group that such a move would enable the international community to better protect civilians.
During AFC/M23's control of the city, residents reported a return to relative calm, with people resuming daily activities without widespread violence, theft, or looting.
However, fears remain high following the group's withdrawal, with many residents concerned that those perceived as having supported AFC/M23 could face reprisals.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/wazalendo-fighters-enter-uvira-after-m23-withdrawal
