South Kivu : clashes between Wazalendo and FARDC escalate and increase the death toll in Uvira

SOS Médias Burundi

Uvira, November 24, 2025 – The security situation remains extremely tense in the city of Uvira and its surrounding areas, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Clashes between groups claiming allegiance to Wazalendo and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) have left at least six dead and more than fifteen wounded between Sunday and Monday, November 24, 2025.

Since midday on Monday, several neighborhoods in Uvira, notably Kalundu and Kalimabenge, have been rocked by heavy gunfire. Fear has quickly gripped the population : several schools have suspended classes, and shops and markets have closed, almost completely paralyzing local economic activities.

Rising death toll

In a statement released on November 23, the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) denounced the violence perpetrated by what they call “fake Wazalendo,” asserting that these armed groups are seriously disrupting public order. According to the army, Sunday’s clashes resulted in four deaths : one FARDC soldier, two Wazalendo fighters, and a civilian motorcyclist. Fourteen other people were wounded, including nine civilians, two soldiers, and three Wazalendo fighters. The army claims to have recovered three AK-47 rifles.

“These disturbances have paralyzed the city of Uvira, and their perpetrators seek to destabilize the peaceful population and undermine the efforts undertaken by the Supreme Commander to pacify eastern DRC,” the FARDC statement specifies.

Double murder in a church in Luvungi

The violence has also spread beyond the city center. On Sunday, November 23, in the Ruzizi Plain, in Luvungi, a man identified as Huruma, presented as a fake Wazalendo and former caretaker of the Holy Family parish, opened fire during a diocesan youth celebration at the Holy Family Catholic Church. The attack left two dead and five wounded.

The Diocese of Uvira strongly condemned this act, while the wounded were admitted to Luvungi Hospital and Uvira General Hospital for emergency treatment.

New escalation in Sange

In the town of Sange, on Saturday, November 22, two Wazalendo were killed in clashes between two rival factions, those of Kamama and Ngomanzito, according to local sources.

Outrage and calls for responsibility

Faced with this escalation, several members of parliament from Uvira, including Justin Bitakwira Bihona-Hayi, a national deputy from Uvira, condemned the abuses and murders attributed to certain Wazalendo elements. Local civil society groups also denounced these atrocities, calling on the authorities to protect civilians.

Some national and international human rights organizations are warning of the risk that the weapons distributed to the Wazalendo groups could be turned against the population. They point to the lack of strict control over these militias, some of whose members are believed to be criminals. The Wazalendo are local militias supported by Kinshasa and deployed to counter the M23, an armed group affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and accused of supporting Rwanda, which has controlled several provincial capitals in North Kivu and South Kivu, as well as other strategic mineral-rich areas, since the beginning of the year. Their militiamen are fighting alongside the loyalist army and the FDNB (Burundi National Defense Force), which has deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers in eastern Congo.

Kigali rejects allegations of support for the M23 rebels, despite claims by UN experts, which Rwanda considers “false and unfounded.”

“The State has lost control,” warns Onésphore Sematumba

In an exclusive interview with SOS Médias Burundi, Onésphore Sematumba, senior analyst for the Great Lakes region at the International Crisis Group, paints an alarming picture :

“The Congolese army has long since shown its limitations. These groups have established themselves as more powerful and better organized than the official forces.”

According to him, many militias operating in eastern Congo have been armed, tolerated, or legitimized by the State. They control entire areas, roads, schools, and even some public services. In several localities, such as Wazalindou, they impose their rule on the population and prevent access for Burundian refugees.

Compromised sovereignty and foreign influence

For Sematumba, the presence of foreign troops—Rwandans, Burundians, or Ugandans—has only exacerbated the crisis.

“These forces are not here for the good of the Congolese people. They serve foreign interests and weaken the security of the population.”

He believes the Congolese government has delegated its own security to militias, creating “a monster it can no longer control,” with dramatic consequences for civilians.

A warning to the region and the international community

“Continuing to observe without acting is tantamount to failing to assist people in danger. We no longer have any excuse to remain passive in the face of this situation,” insists the Crisis Group expert.

He calls on Congolese authorities, neighboring countries, and the international community to take urgent measures to restore the State authority, protect the population, and curb foreign interference.

“A small spark could ignite a major conflict throughout the region. Urgent action is needed.”