Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. ShareGOMA, Congo (AP) — Congolese soldiers and fighters from a pro-government militia have reentered the strategic eastern town of Uvira, the army and residents said Monday, a month after it was seized by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, as fighting in the region escalated despite a U.S.-mediated peace deal. The Congolese army said in a statement it took control of the city on Sunday following the rebels announced withdrawal last month. He added that the soldiers are in the city alongside fighters from the pro-government Wazalendo militia. The rebel push into Uvira had also brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Source: Ethiopian News January 20, 2026 14:04 UTC