Kinshasa | January 19, 2026 — The Congolese government has announced a new plan for the progressive restoration of state authority in Uvira and surrounding areas. This comes in the wake of what Kinshasa calls the “ forced withdrawal ” of Rwandan troops and their M23/AFC proxies. Authorities stress this is not a gesture of goodwill but the outcome of military and diplomatic pressure.

The government confirmed that coordinated judicial, security, and humanitarian measures will be deployed to secure civilians, rebuild state services, and restore calm. But officials warn the withdrawal is only partial and deceptive. The root aggression continues, the goal remains the complete, unconditional exit of all Rwandan forces and M23 elements from Congolese soil.

Kinshasa condemns the recent mass pillaging and systemic looting committed by retreating forces in Uvira, which included vandalism of public offices, theft of private property, and targeted actions against specific communities. These acts, according to the communiqué, created chaos and deepened ethnic stigmatization.

The government also denounces the forced deportation of Banyamulenge civilians by M23/RDF, warning that it’s part of a wider propaganda campaign to fabricate justification for Rwanda’s presence in the DRC. Kinshasa praised the Banyamulenge community’s courage in rejecting this manipulation and refusing to serve as a pretext for occupation.

FARDC and Congolese police will continue to re-establish order and security in the region, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of background, are protected from violence and manipulation. The DRC reaffirms that true peace can only come from a total and verified end to Rwandan military operations and M23 support.

The government calls on all Congolese to remain calm, vigilant, and resist falling into the traps of disinformation and division. It warns against narratives that feed the enemy’s agenda and pledges to continue its mission of protecting civilians, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty.