Name: DR Congo: Is Katanga the next target for M23 rebels?
Uploaded: 2025-12-15T16:00:33.021Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Description: Following the takeover of Uvira by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, is the financial and strategic hub Katanga next? Africanews spoke to political scientist Christian Moleka Kibamgu about what the rebels might do next.

Following the takeover of Uvira by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, is the financial and strategic hub Katanga next? Africanews spoke to political scientist Christian Moleka Kibamgu about what the rebels might do next.

Katanga

After the capture of Uvira by AFC M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, analysts are evaluating the group's next possible moves. Experts highlight that the rebels could advance south towards Katanga, a region of significant economic and strategic importance to the Kinshasa government.

Katanga's financial resources and existing political tensions make it a potential target and support base for the M23 rebels. Some local leaders' hostility towards the central government and ongoing community tensions could further facilitate the rebels' advance into the province.

DR Congo: Is Katanga the next target for M23 rebels?

After the fall of Uvira, questions are mounting about a possible advance by AFC M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Analysts say the rebels now have a number of options, including an advance south towards Katanga, a region considered vital to Kinshasa's economy and strategy. After Uvira, the M23 has three options, either leave Walikale and head towards Manyema and Kindu or go north towards Kisangani, or go south towards Katanga. And I believe that the most likely scenario is that they will head south towards Katanga. Because they're in Uvira, they're on Lake Tanganyika, which also opens up to Kalemi and Tanganyika. But they can also descend towards Katanga from the mountains of the Mitambwe Plateau. Katanga is strategically important because it's Kinshasa's financial stronghold, including for the rebellion if they were to take control of the province. But they could also find a kind of political support base there, given the hostility of some Katangan leaders towards the Kinshasa regime. And today there are also far too many community tensions, so Katanga could be a much more favourable ally for the rebels than moving towards Kisangani.

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