Overview
- Congo’s government confirmed the fall of Uvira, a strategic Lake Tanganyika port whose capture extends M23’s control across South Kivu and the Burundian border.
- At the UN, the U.S. said Rwanda directs and supports M23, alleging 5,000–7,000 Rwandan troops fought in eastern Congo this month; Kigali rejects the claims.
- UN officials warn of a potential regional conflagration as displacement in the latest surge tops 500,000, with hospitals reporting collapsing services and severe shortages.
- Regional authorities report more than 400 civilians killed since early December, with tens of thousands fleeing into Burundi and thousands more moving within South Kivu.
- The offensive undercuts the December 4 Washington Accords that excluded M23, strains separate Qatar‑hosted talks, and prompts calls for sanctions and a stronger MONUSCO posture.