Announced M23's Strategic Withdrawal from Uvira: A Display of Strength, Not Weakness

M23 officers in Uvira city December 2025

On December 15, 2025, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) made headlines by issuing an official communiqué that announced a potential unilateral withdrawal of its military forces from Uvira, a strategically significant city located in the South Kivu province. This city had recently been liberated by the AFC/M23 just one week prior, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict in the region. The communiqué, which was signed by Corneille Nangaa, the political coordinator of the movement, framed this decision not as a retreat or a concession but rather as a proactive trust-building measure aimed at fostering peace and stability in the region. This action is intended to support the ongoing Doha Peace Process and the Framework Agreement that was signed on November 15, 2025, which seeks to address the long-standing issues of conflict and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This announcement is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it should be noted that the AFC/M23's decision to withdraw is not indicative of a lack of strength or resolve; rather, it reflects maturity and a formidable display of military dominance and strategic confidence. The movement is signaling that it possesses the capability to intervene decisively anywhere in the DRC, particularly in situations where the civilian population is in jeopardy. By capturing Uvira, the AFC/M23 sent a clear and deliberate message: their reach extends far beyond this one city, and they are prepared to act wherever necessary to protect the people.

The implications of the AFC/M23's actions in Uvira are profound. The rapid and effective capture of this city was not merely a tactical victory; it served as a demonstration of the movement's operational prowess and its ability to mobilize forces quickly and effectively. In just a week, the AFC/M23 showcased that no corner of the DRC is beyond their operational reach. They clearly understood that no one is coming to save the congolese people if they don't.

The situation remains precarious; if the government in Kinshasa continues its pattern of violence against innocent civilians, as it had done prior to the liberation of Uvira, the AFC/M23 has made it abundantly clear that similar military actions could be replicated elsewhere at any given moment.

Ultimately, the developments in Uvira and the broader implications of the AFC/M23's actions will continue to be closely monitored by both local stakeholders and the international community, as the situation remains fluid and the stakes are undeniably high.

The city's rapid fall exposed the fragility of the government forces (FARDC) and their allies, especially the Burundians who crumbled despite layers of foreign support. Withdrawing now does not erase that reality; it reinforces it. Uvira remains a "fallen city" in the strategic sense—any soldier either from a neutral force or government force who may returns to Uvira tomorrow will know deep in his heart that his presence depends entirely on the goodwill of AFC/M23, not on military superiority or bravery. History proves this pattern. AFC/M23 has repeatedly shown restraint only to face betrayal when peace gestures are exploited. In January 2023, M23 withdrew from approximately 80% of the territory it had liberated as part of ceasefire commitments. Burundian troops from the East African Community (EAC) force were deployed, ostensibly to maintain peace. In practice, they allowed free rein to FARDC, Wazalendo militias, FDLR, and Nyatura leading to the destruction of Tutsi villages in Masisi in October 2023, burning more than 300 homes belonging to Congolese Tutsi in Nturo. Prior to the withdraw, M23 had warned that, should such actions happen, the mouvement would definitely come back and retake those affected entities, Which it did.

These events were not isolated. The capture of Uvira was also driven by escalating targeted killings of Banyamulenge (Congolese Tutsi) across South Kivu, particularly in the Minembwe highlands. Reports and videos document systematic violence against these communities, with Burundi's involvement making the situation even more grave. Burundian forces have been accused of using Bujumbura airport to launch airstrikes on Minembwe, killing innocent civilians—predominantly Banyamulenge.President Félix Tshisekedi's strategy has consistently relied on foreign armies to prop up his government, revealing its inherent weakness. He first invited EAC forces, then expelled them when they advocated peace talks. He turned to European mercenaries, SADC troops, additional Burundian contingents. All failed spectacularly. Goma fell despite these reinforcements. Bukavu followed shortly after and Uvira fell a week ago . Each loss sent the same unspoken message: Kinshasa cannot establish state authority or honor agreements without external crutches—and even those crutches collapse.

The Doha process and its guarantors now face the same test. AFC/M23's communiqué explicitly warns against repeating past mistakes, calling for demilitarization of Uvira, civilian protection, and deployment of a neutral monitoring force. Without these safeguards, history suggests FARDC and allies will exploit the vacuum to target populations perceived as sympathetic to the movement.The world cannot ignore the evidence. Videos circulate openly showing unmasked perpetrators committing atrocities against civilians. Those who kill do not hide their faces because they operate with impunity under the current regime. Deals signed with Kinshasa carry no lasting weight because the government lacks the will to uphold them—or to protect its own people. Uvira will never be the same. Its liberation exposed the DRC government's vulnerabilities for all to see, same with its allies. AFC/M23's probable withdrawal is not retreat; it is proof of overwhelming strength and sanity—the ability to take a city to protect civilians, and then step back to give peace a genuine chance when needed.

If that chance is squandered through renewed provocation or genocide, the movement has shown it will return to protect the vulnerable, just as it did in Masisi and Kitchanga.

Meanwhile the population in Uvira is protesting against the announced withdrawal. It's been a week without the chaos caused by FARDC, burundians, wazalendo and FDLR. For them, this has been a dream. The government painted a wrong picture about AFC M23 but when they came, the brought peace to us, said one of the demonstrators.

The message is clear: real peace requires addressing root causes—ending anti-Tutsi hatred, demilitarizing conflict zones, and building trust—not endless reliance on failed foreign interventions. Until then, cities like Uvira remain symbolically fallen, waiting for either genuine peace building or the inevitable consequences of betrayal.