Uvira : the allies’ war turns into a confrontation at the gates of Burundi

SOS Médias Burundi

Bukavu, August 27, 2025 — A few kilometers from Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, the border town of Uvira was the scene of violent clashes on Tuesday between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and local Wazalendo militias. The fighting, concentrated in the Kavimvira and Kasenga neighborhoods, paralyzed all activities and highlighted the internal divisions within the pro-Congolese government camp.

The violence reportedly erupted after the Wazalendo attempted to deploy their troops at the Kavimvira border and in a warehouse belonging to the Directorate General of Taxes. The Congolese army responded immediately. As early as Monday, the FARDC had announced the death of one of its soldiers. On Tuesday, several bodies from both sides lay along the road between Kasenga and Kavimvira.

Yesterday’s allies, today’s rivals

Supported by Kinshasa, the Wazalendo militias have been fighting for several years alongside the FARDC and the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB) against the M23 and the Twirwaneho group, which is predominantly composed of Banyamulenge.

But since the beginning of the year, military setbacks suffered by the M23 in North Kivu and the redeployment of forces to South Kivu have strained relations. The Wazalendo accuse the FARDC of abandoning certain posts and the Burundian troops of slowing down their offensives. Several incidents of disarmament and clashes have already been reported.

In April 2025, the Congolese Minister of Defense, Guy Kabombo, traveled to Bujumbura and then to Uvira in an attempt to ease tensions.

Reaction from provincial authorities

The provincial government spokesperson, Luganywa Bashizi Didier Kabi, echoed the position of the Governor of South Kivu, Jean Jacques Purusi :

“The Governor condemns in the strongest terms the verbal and physical violence that has occurred over the past two days in certain neighborhoods of Uvira, between brothers and sisters of the same family, for unknown reasons.”

He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and described these clashes as “isolated cases.”

Uvira, a provincial capital under tension

Since the fall of Bukavu, captured by the M23 and its allies, Uvira has become the new administrative center of South Kivu. But according to testimonies collected by SOS Médias Burundi, many Congolese officials prefer to spend the night in Bujumbura, deeming the security situation too unstable.