Gunfire echoed through the streets of Uvira, a border town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as clashes erupted between allied forces on Wednesday.
The escalating violence follows the rapid southward push of M23 rebels, a group accused of receiving support from Rwanda.
Residents described scenes of mayhem as government soldiers fled across Lake Tanganyika, looting erupted, and bodies lay in the streets.
Reports indicated that the town’s prison was emptied, including 228 detained soldiers, though it remains unclear whether they escaped or were released.
The unrest intensified after the M23 seized the provincial capital, Bukavu, over the weekend—the most significant setback for Congolese forces since losing Goma in late January.
Panic has spread throughout Uvira as retreating soldiers clash with Wazalendo militia, their supposed allies.
Local officials and humanitarian workers reported at least 30 bodies in the town’s morgue and over 100 injured people hospitalized due to the violence.
The retreating Congolese army’s disarray underscores the government’s weakening grip over the region, as well-equipped M23 rebels continue their advance.
