– 1,500 dead
– 30,000 displaced
– 12,000 children deprived of schooling
Kinshasa, January 19th, 2025 (CPA).- 1,500 dead, 300,000 displaced, 12,000 children deprived of schooling… a heavy toll of damage caused by the Rwandan armed coalition and the M23/AFC in the town of Uvira, South Kivu province (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo), reported by the Congolese government spokesperson following an emergency meeting held on Monday at the Prime Minister’s office. « The humanitarian situation was a central topic of discussion. There are 1,500 dead, 300,000 displaced, including 12,000 children deprived of schooling…, » said Patrick Muyaya, Minister of in charge Communication and spokesperson for the Congolese government, following the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by several members of the government and state services.
Preparing for the resettlement of state services
The presence of the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) and the Ministries in charge of the Homeland and Social Affairs at this meeting was aimed at preparing the practical conditions for the return of state services to this part of the country, following the atrocities perpetrated there by the Rwandan army and the M23/AFC, in particular the rapid rehabilitation of border services and the assessment of the condition of housing, many of which have been destroyed or occupied. “Discussions focused primarily on the humanitarian and security situation in Uvira. The government insisted that it is not enough to announce a withdrawal, but that it is imperative to ensure the effective and gradual reestablishment of all state services, as the city remains infiltrated,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. According to the source, the government stressed that no mass return will be authorized without prior assessments, in order to avoid new vulnerabilities for the populations concerned. According to the Congolese government spokesperson, this resettlement can only take place after the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) have established a secure perimeter and the police have secured the city, including the outskirts of Uvira. “It is not enough to say that they are withdrawing. We must ensure that state services are fully reinstated,” Patrick Muyaya said in the statement. Mr. Muyaya also gave assurances that the governor and provincial authorities would return as soon as security conditions allowed, in order to ensure the sustainable restoration of state authority.
Justice, social cohesion, and the fight against impunity on the agenda
The meeting chaired by the Prime Minister also addressed the issue of justice and the fight against impunity. According to the Congolese government, serious crimes committed in Uvira must be subject to judicial sanctions in order to prevent similar violence from recurring in the future. The government also praised the patriotism of local communities, which have rejected all attempts at manipulation and called for the preservation of social cohesion. On this occasion, a clear message was reiterated: “avoid any community stigmatization and close any gaps that could be exploited by the enemy.” This meeting marked the starting point for a structured government initiative, centered on humanitarian, security, and judicial actions, aimed at restoring the state’s authority in Uvira on a lasting basis, protecting civilians, and ensuring a gradual return to stability. This meeting was attended by several members of the government, as well as experts from several relevant ministries and specialized state services, including the DGM, security services, and humanitarian experts. The capture of the martyred city of Goma by the coalition of the Rwandan army and the M23-AFC in January 2025 left more than 8,500 people dead, according to the Congolese government’s assessment.
“More than 8,500 bodies have been buried and around 30 bodies are still in the morgues in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province,” said Congolese Health Minister