STORY: :: Fizi, Democratic Republic of Congo / January 26, 2026
Another casualty of fighting between the army and rebel groups in the highlands of eastern Congo.
Such violence, unfolding away from urban areas, is largely overlooked by international mediators.
But has the potential to further complicate efforts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to bring peace and investment in minerals.
This International Committee of the Red Cross supported hospital was caring for 115 patients in January.
Doctor Richard Lwandja says that far exceeds capacity:
"There was high demand compared to available resources. We were cut off from our supply zone in Uvira. Uvira was closed, Burundi had closed its borders, and we couldn't go to Kalemie to get medicines. It was very complicated. Fortunately, we had small quantities of medicines stored before Uvira closed, as well as donations from the government and ICRC. This allowed us to hold on during this period. "
:: File
The AFC/M23 rebel group staged a lightning advance last year - seizing eastern Congo's biggest city Goma and then the capital of South Kivu province Bukavu.
In December it briefly went further, taking the South Kivu city Uvira near the border with Burundi.
The group withdrew under pressure from the U.S. which had brokered a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda.
The U.N. says Rwanda backs and exercises control over AFC/M23, which Rwanda denies.
Recent fighting has centered on the (South Kivu's) highlands around Minembwe in Fizi territory.
The government says soldiers are deployed to stop the rebels advancing further, and to restore state authority.
Analysts say the government wants to stop the conflict from reaching some of Congo's most important mining centers.
The escalation in fighting comes as Congo and AFC/M23 agreed in Doha this week to activate a Qatari-mediated ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
A U.N. team is expected to deploy to Uvira in days.
