Recently, authorities in Uvira, the second largest city in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have claimed the discovery of two mass graves as they return to the city. This return comes after a departure prompted by the advancing presence of the politico-military group AFC/M23. The governor, Jean-Jacques Purusi, has pointed to these discoveries as part of a broader push to re-establish public services and order in the area, which has faced instability.

The identified sites, as mentioned by the governor, are located within the neighborhoods of Kiromoni and at the Kavinvira cemetery. Local reports suggest that several bodies have been found at the Kiromoni site, and citizens have reported sightings of additional corpses in the vicinity. Despite the serious nature of these allegations, no exhumations have been conducted thus far, raising questions about the evidence and the potential political ramifications within the region.

The claims of mass graves in Uvira could signal escalating tensions within the region and further complicate the fragile security situation. The involvement of civil society actors in alerting authorities reflects an active local engagement, yet the presence of AFC/M23 continues to pose a substantial threat to stability. The accusations against this group by provincial authorities may also serve to galvanize local and international attention to the human rights situation in the area, inviting scrutiny and potentially leading to investigations into the ongoing conflict dynamics in eastern DRC.