Overview
- Congo’s government confirmed that M23 seized the strategic lakeside city of Uvira, tightening control over the Burundi border and extending the rebels’ corridor across South Kivu.
- The UN warned of a potential regional conflagration and called for an immediate ceasefire, with new assessments indicating more than 500,000 people displaced since December 2 and hospitals struggling to cope.
- At the UN Security Council, the U.S. said Rwanda is directing and materially supporting M23, alleging 5,000–7,000 Rwandan troops have operated in eastern DRC, and vowed to use tools to hold peace spoilers accountable.
- Rwanda denied backing M23 as President Paul Kagame accused Burundi of deploying over 20,000 troops in eastern DRC; Burundi alleged Rwandan bombing and reserved the right to self‑defense, a claim Kigali rejected.
- Refugees described massacres and bombardment as they fled into Burundi and Rwanda, with regional officials reporting more than 400 civilians killed and Congo’s foreign minister urging sanctions on Rwanda.