What You Need to Know
The Congolese army has announced the recovery of Ovira, a city in South Kivu, following the withdrawal of the March 23 Movement rebels. However, the government in Kinshasa is cautious, stating that the security situation is still under evaluation. The army aims to secure the area and protect civilians while addressing accusations of looting from both sides.
Africa. The army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced the recovery of the city of Ovira, located in South Kivu province in the east of the country, following the withdrawal of fighters from the March 23 Movement, supported by Rwanda, on Saturday. However, the government in Kinshasa has expressed caution regarding this announcement, confirming that the security situation is still under evaluation.
According to the General Staff of the Congolese army, the armed forces regained full control of the city of Ovira on Sunday after the withdrawal of elements from the March 23 Movement. A statement from the army clarified that its units have deployed within the city and surrounding areas to strengthen their positions, secure civilian populations, and protect public and private property.
In contrast, both sides of the conflict have exchanged accusations regarding looting that has affected the city in recent days. The Congolese army condemned what it described as “systematic looting” attributed to elements of the March 23 Movement and Rwandan defense forces before their withdrawal from Ovira. Meanwhile, the rebels accused the Congolese army and its allies from the Mazalindo militia of committing similar acts.
On the government side, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa chaired an emergency meeting in Kinshasa with several civilian and military officials, dedicated to coordinating the security, humanitarian, and judicial response to the situation in Ovira, which is considered a strategic city in South Kivu.
For his part, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed that the return of the South Kivu governor and regional administration to the city of Ovira will only occur after ensuring complete security control over the city and its surroundings. He added that the redeployment of local authorities and the resumption of government services are linked to achieving lasting security stability, which allows for the protection of the population and the preparation of suitable conditions for the return of state institutions to normal operations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced ongoing conflict since the late 1990s, primarily fueled by political instability and the presence of various armed groups. The March 23 Movement, which has been active in the eastern regions, is one of the many factions involved in the struggle for control over territory and resources. The situation in South Kivu remains tense, with local populations often caught in the crossfire of military operations and rebel activities.
