Heavy gunfire echoed across parts of Uvira city in South Kivu province on the night of Thursday, May 8, 2025, after Congolese soldiers were shot at while allegedly attempting to steal in a local neighborhood.
The incident occurred around 10:00 PM. Reports indicate that FARDC soldiers were trying to steal in the Rugenge area of Kavimvira.
A local resident said:
“It was FARDC soldiers who came to steal from a home along the Rugenge road in Kavimvira, but local youths opened fire on them before they could take anything.”
After being met with a hail of bullets from the local vigilantes, the soldiers quickly fled to quieter parts of Uvira.
No material damage has been reported so far, but the gunfire caused panic among residents, prompting some to flee.
Security in Uvira has been deteriorating since a large number of Wazalendo fighters, Burundian troops, and FARDC soldiers fled there after being expelled from Bukavu by M23 rebels.
Tensions among pro-government factions have risen, with frequent accusations that one group enabled M23 to take Bukavu. This has led to repeated clashes, particularly between Wazalendo and FARDC.
The situation worsened when Kinshasa paid FARDC salaries while leaving Wazalendo fighters unpaid, fueling further resentment.
Just two weeks ago, the two sides again clashed, each accusing the other of destabilizing Uvira.
As a result, FARDC has now ordered the Wazalendo fighters to relocate to highland positions surrounding the city.
