Uvira: Wazalendo Deployed to Runingu Amid Security Turmoil as Civilians Continue to Flee Violence and Abuses Allegedly Committed by FARDC Coalition Forces, Burundian Troops, FDLR, and Imbonerakure
As the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to be a theater of armed conflict and insecurity, reports from the Uvira region indicate that Wazalendo fighters previously operating in areas such as Luvungi and other locations near the Ruzizi Valley have begun being redeployed to Runingu, where they are reportedly expected to take up positions.
This relocation process began on the morning of Sunday, 24/05/2026, when information from local residents and other sources in the area indicated that trucks and other military equipment were used to transport these fighters to Runingu, in what is described as an effort to reorganize and consolidate operations within the coalition supporting the Congolese government and its partners.
During the night of the same day, starting around 8:00 p.m., residents of Runingu reported hearing heavy gunfire, which caused widespread fear and significant distress among civilians already concerned about their security. Initial reports suggested that the gunfire may have originated from Wazalendo fighters who had begun arriving in the area from Luvungi and surrounding locations.
Residents living in areas controlled by a coalition consisting of the FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo groups, FDLR, and Imbonerakure report continuing to face difficult living conditions, including looting, confiscation of property, arbitrary arrests, and killings allegedly carried out by armed groups operating alongside the Kinshasa authorities.
Some residents report that looting of homes and businesses has reached alarming levels, particularly in Luvungi, Sange, and Uvira town, where armed groups are accused of stealing money, livestock, and food supplies from civilians. Others say that individuals are beaten or killed on suspicion of collaborating with opposition forces.
Reports from the area further indicate that many civilians continue to flee toward relatively safer zones or cross into Burundi and other parts of central Congo due to fear of ongoing abuses committed by these armed groups and their affiliates.
On the other hand, residents living in areas controlled by the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) and MRDP-Twirwaneho state that they experience relative security and freedom in their daily lives. They report that commercial activities continue normally, markets remain operational, and civilians are able to move freely without fear of looting or harm from armed actors.
Security analysts following the situation in eastern DRC suggest that the redeployment of Wazalendo fighters to Runingu may be part of a new military strategy aimed at strengthening the Kinshasa coalition’s positions in Uvira territory and the Ruzizi Valley, particularly as AFC/M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho continue to expand their influence and demonstrate their ability to control territory and provide security.
Although the Kinshasa government continues to assert that it is doing everything possible to restore security, residents in these areas continue to express serious concerns about the role of groups such as Wazalendo, FDLR, and Burundi’s Imbonerakure, accusing them of involvement in abuses and intimidation of civilians.
As of now, further information and investigations are ongoing regarding the exact cause of the gunfire reported in Runingu and the true objectives behind the redeployment of Wazalendo forces, while civilians continue to call for a lasting solution to restore peace and security in Uvira and the wider eastern Congo region.
