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AFC/M23 Plans to Leave Uvira: Peace Gesture or Risky ?
The AFC/M23 coalition has announced plans to withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, framing the move as a unilateral confidence-building measure intended to support the Doha peace process. While presented as a step toward de-escalation, the announcement is conditional and highlights the persistent fragility of security in eastern Congo.
In a statement dated December 15, 2025, and signed by Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, Coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), the group directly links its decision to diplomatic progress achieved in Doha.
“The Alliance Fleuve Congo wishes to refer to the Doha Peace Process under which significant progress was recently achieved,” the statement says, citing the signing of the Doha Framework Agreement as a key turning point.
The announcement comes days after AFC/M23 entered Uvira without major fighting inside the city. Clashes had earlier occurred in surrounding areas such as Sange, while Uvira itself remained largely spared from urban combat. By the time AFC/M23 took control, its forces had already advanced beyond the city, giving the move more political and symbolic significance than immediate military value.
AFC/M23 says its planned withdrawal is being carried out at the request of international mediators, notably the United States. The group portrays the move as a calculated step to preserve momentum in peace talks.
“In light of these achievements, and despite the continued provocations and abuses from the FARDC and its allies, the Alliance Fleuve Congo initiates a unilateral trust-building measure in order to give the Doha peace process the maximum chance to succeed,” the statement reads.
This framing positions AFC/M23 as a cooperative actor, even as it continues to accuse Congolese forces and allied militias of undermining ceasefire efforts.
Conditions and civilian protection
The withdrawal, however, is not unconditional. AFC/M23 warns that past pullbacks were followed by violence against civilians perceived as sympathetic to the movement. The group calls on peace guarantors to ensure the demilitarization of Uvira, the protection of civilians and infrastructure, and the monitoring of the ceasefire through a neutral force.
By emphasizing civilian safety, AFC/M23 adopts the language of international humanitarian norms while shifting responsibility for security to mediators and guarantors. Yet the statement offers few details on timelines or enforcement mechanisms, leaving uncertainty about implementation.
A fragile test for peace
Whether the planned withdrawal from Uvira marks a genuine step toward peace or a strategic repositioning remains unclear. What is certain is that Uvira now stands as a test case for the Doha process, where diplomatic promises will be measured against realities on the ground and the ability of all actors to prevent renewed violence.
