Uvira Witnesses Protests: Strong Messages on the War and FRN Begin to Emerge!
Minembwe Capital News (MCN)
Protests scheduled to take place in the city of Uvira, located in South Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), began on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The demonstration was organized by the provincial authorities of South Kivu, with reports indicating that Deputy Governor Jean-Jacques Elekano played a role in its preparations. Its stated objectives are to condemn the ongoing war in South Kivu, call for the restoration of peace, and denounce the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), led by Joseph Kabila.
Eyewitness accounts received by MCN indicate that the demonstration began with ordinary vehicles absent from the streets, except for military and police vehicles. According to those who provided the accounts, the march started at Kavimvira Roundabout and proceeded towards government administrative buildings in the city of Uvira.
The demonstration follows a statement issued by the Uvira City authorities on November 1, 2026, calling on residents and various groups within the city to participate in what was described as a peaceful march promoting civic participation.
According to the announcement, the march was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. from Kavimvira Roundabout and end at the Mulongwe Esplanade, commonly known as Place Orange.
In their message, the organizers stated that the demonstration was intended to condemn the war and any attempts to divide the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They also called for peace, national unity, and respect for the country’s territorial integrity.
Residents were urged to wear white clothing, participate peacefully, and refrain from any acts of violence. They were also asked to bring DRC national flags and messages calling for peace.
Those invited to participate included members of the Union Sacrée de la Nation political platform, security forces, local administrative officials, motorcycle taxi associations, traders, students, religious leaders, traditional authorities, non-governmental organizations, and all residents of Uvira, regardless of their community of origin.
The demonstration is taking place at a time when security remains a major concern in several parts of South Kivu, where fighting continues between the FRN and forces supporting the government in Kinshasa.
On the other hand, information received by MCN from residents of the region indicates that the coalition of forces comprising the FARDC, Burundian troops, and Wazalendo groups is accused of collaborating with FDLR elements and mercenaries in military operations aimed at fighting the FRN.
According to these accounts, attacks are being carried out against FRN positions in the mountains of Mulenge and other mountainous areas of Uvira bordering the Rusizi Plain. Residents providing this information also report that military operations sometimes extend into areas inhabited by the Banyamulenge, particularly in Minembwe.
They further state that, during such incidents, the FRN sometimes intervenes to protect civilians through ground operations, while other military activities are conducted from the air using unmanned aerial vehicles commonly known as drones.
Although some residents have participated in demonstrations condemning the FRN, others have expressed differing views, calling for the FRN to advance into Uvira and drive out the FARDC and Wazalendo groups.
These residents say they have long been concerned about the activities of Wazalendo, accusing the groups of disrupting their peace, looting their property, and killing some members of their communities. These concerns reflect the security fears of certain residents and their desire for changes in the armed groups operating in the region.
Uvira is a strategically important city in South Kivu Province due to its geographical location near the Burundian border and the Rusizi Plain. Security developments in the city have significant implications for residents’ livelihoods, trade, and relations between countries in the region.
The demonstration is taking place amid differing views among Uvira residents regarding the war, security, and the possible ways of restoring peace in the region.
Minembwe Capital News (MCN)