M23 Rebels Claim Capture of Strategic City Uvira in Eastern DRC

The M23 rebel group has claimed control of the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a rapid offensive that began earlier this month. The announcement was made on X by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, who urged citizens to return to their homes. Uvira, a key port city on Lake Tanganyika, lies directly across from Burundi's largest city, Bujumbura. DRC authorities have yet to confirm the capture. The offensive comes despite a recent US-mediated peace agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington, DC. The accord, signed last week, obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups and work to end hostilities, but it did not include M23, which has been engaged in separate negotiations with the DRC. Residents reported chaotic scenes as Congolese army troops fled, and gunfire echoed throughout the city. The conflict in eastern DRC involves over 100 armed groups vying for control in the mineral-rich region, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises with over 7 million people displaced.