+7 The Washington Accord for the DRC and Rwanda was formally signed on December 4, 2025, by Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi in Washington D.C.
The events in Uvira and the broader eastern DRC crisis serve as a stark reminder of the enduring scars left by colonialism, particularly the arbitrary borders drawn at the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference. These borders forcibly merged diverse ethnic groups while severing others, ignoring pre-colonial realities and sowing seeds of enduring tension. As Julius Nyerere wisely observed in reflecting on such divisions, Africa’s challenge lies in viewing communities through the lens of their historical and cultural identities rather than imposed colonial frameworks. He emphasized that if Congo cannot accommodate groups like the Banyamulenge, a Congolese Tutsi pastoralist community long established in South Kivu, a just path might involve allowing them to return to Rwanda, but with their land and dignity intact. This highlights a deeper truth: our collective failure as Africans to address people groups on pre-colonial terms has perpetuated conflict, keeping us in a state of lethal slumber.
People respond to injustice and change in varied ways; some as helpers, organizers, advocates, or even rebels. As President Paul Kagame has noted, rebellion or coups can sometimes be necessary when they challenge deep-seated corruption and failed governance. In this light, the situation in Uvira represents not isolated aggression but a symptom of systemic failures, a tip of the dominoes toppling under the weight of unresolved colonial legacies. The true power of the oppressor endures in the minds of the oppressed long after physical departure, fueling division, exploitation, and mistrust.
Uvira holds special meaning for me. I have visited this vibrant border city on Lake Tanganyika, conducting conflict transformation training there, and it remains home to dear peace warriors and their families. The recent developments fill me with profound worry for its people and the region’s stability.
On December 9–10, 2025, Uvira came under the control of forces associated with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23 following a rapid advance. This shift disrupted a key trade and logistics hub linking the DRC to Burundi, exacerbating displacement and humanitarian strain in an already volatile area.
The M23 movement, largely composed of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese (including Tutsi communities), has long positioned itself as a defender of marginalized groups, particularly Congolese Tutsis such as the Banyamulenge—against neglect, attacks, and threats from other militias like the FDLR. The Banyamulenge, a pastoral ethnic group native to South Kivu (with roots tracing back centuries in the region), have faced persistent discrimination, land disputes, and violence, often accused of foreign allegiances due to their linguistic and cultural ties to Rwanda. While M23 claims to protect such communities from persecution, the Banyamulenge are not synonymous with M23 rebels: the group draws from broader Congolese Tutsi elements (more prominently from North Kivu origins), and many Banyamulenge have historically opposed or distanced themselves from M23, with some forming separate self-defense groups like Twirwaneho. Others have aligned with M23 in certain contexts amid escalating threats, reflecting divided responses within the community to shared grievances.
The conflict dates back to 2012 and stems from deep ethnic and security grievances in a region marked by weak governance, resource exploitation, and external influences. Despite a U.S.A brokered Washington Accords signed on December 4, 2025 celebrated as a step toward peace and economic cooperation between the DRC and Rwanda fighting persisted, underscoring how fragile such agreements can be without addressing root causes. Over 7 million people remain displaced across eastern DRC, with hundreds of thousands more affected by recent movements around Uvira.
The crisis traces directly to colonial-era decisions. Belgium’s brutal rule under King Leopold II (1885–1908) devastated the Congo, while the Berlin Conference’s artificial borders ignored tribal territories, grouping incompatible groups and splitting kin across nations. In the Great Lakes, colonial favoritism toward certain ethnic groups created lasting divisions that contributed to tragedies like the 1994 Rwandan genocide and persistent militia activity.
Today, the DRC’s vast mineral wealth—coltan, cobalt, gold—attracts foreign interests and armed actors, perpetuating a cycle of dependency and conflict. Weak institutions, corruption, and divided regional responses allow these dynamics to thrive.
The advance on Uvira was swift, with coordinated operations leading to the retreat of Congolese forces (FARDC), allied Wazalendo militias, and Burundian troops. Reports indicate local grievances and poor coordination on the defending side contributed to the collapse, while the capturing forces emphasized “liberation” from instability.
Uvira’s strategic position disrupts cross-border trade (vital for Burundi), heightens refugee flows, and raises fears of wider instability involving neighboring countries. It exemplifies how colonial divisions continue to ravage the region, long after independence.
True resolution requires looking beyond blame to systemic change:
– DRC must prioritize army reform, anti-corruption efforts, and inclusive security structures that protect all communities without favoritism.
– Neighboring states should engage in genuine dialogue, withdraw from proxy dynamics, and support regional stability.
– African institutions like the African Union need stronger enforcement, shared intelligence, and unified action to counter external interference and promote fair resource management.
– Civil society and communities must advocate for accountability, inclusive peace processes, and reconciliation rooted in pre-colonial identities.
Uvira is a wake-up call. Africa must awaken from divisions imposed long ago, reject exploitation, and reclaim agency over our future. For the sake of Uvira’s people, the Banyamulenge, and countless others enduring this crisis, delay is no longer acceptable.
Read more about the Author: Philip Kakungulu
References
– Human Rights Watch: Report on the capture of Uvira and risks to civilians.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/dr-congo-fall-of-eastern-city-puts-civilians-at-risk
– Wikipedia: Detailed entry on the 2025 Uvira offensive, including timeline and Burundian retreat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Uvira_offensive
– Al Jazeera: Coverage of M23 cementing control and refugee accounts.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/12/refugees-describe-neighbours-killed-as-m23-cements-control-of-key-drc-city
– The New York Times: M23 seizure of Uvira and control over Kivu regions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/world/africa/congo-m23-kivu-rwanda-uvira-burundi-trump.html
– Reuters: Consolidation of control and Burundian troop issues.
https://www.reuters.com/world/m23-consolidates-control-over-congo-town-blow-peace-talks-2025-12-11/
– Critical Threats Project: Analysis of the capture and regional implications.
https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/what-m23s-capture-of-uvira-means-for-the-drc-wider-region-and-peace-talks-africa-file-special-edition
– U.S. Department of State: Official release on the signing hosted by President Trump.
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/12/signing-of-the-washington-accords-for-peace-and-prosperity-between-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-rwanda
– Another State Department page: Joint declaration details.
https://www.state.gov/joint-declaration-by-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-the-republic-of-rwanda-on-the-occasion-of-establishing-the-washington-accords-for-peace-and-prosperity
– Al Jazeera: Trump hails the deal amid ongoing violence.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/4/trump-hails-great-day-for-the-world-as-drc-rwanda-finalise-peace-deal
– Reuters: Leaders affirm commitment despite fighting.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/trump-hosts-congo-rwanda-leaders-latest-push-peace-2025-12-04/
– Reuters: UN experts on Rwanda’s command and control over M23.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rwanda-exercises-command-control-over-m23-rebels-say-un-experts-2025-07-02/
– Wikipedia (March 23 Movement): Summary of UN findings on Rwandan backing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_23_Movementalybensmi@gmail.com
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