KINSHASA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Tanganyika Province, in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Wednesday announced the immediate suspension of all traffic between the province and neighboring South Kivu, including routes on Lake Tanganyika, citing a sharp deterioration in the security situation.

The decision followed an extraordinary security council meeting held in Kalemie, the provincial capital, chaired by Tanganyika Governor Christian Kitungwa Muteba. Local officials said the measures were adopted as a precaution amid growing security risks linked to the takeover of Uvira, a city in South Kivu, by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, despite the group's announcement that it would withdraw.

According to an official statement, the council ordered "the intensification of combat patrols by the Armed Forces of the DRC across the entire province," as well as "the closure of traffic between Tanganyika Province and South Kivu Province, particularly on the Lake Tanganyika route, until further notice."

Tanganyika authorities also announced the closure of two private airstrips and the tightening of controls at all border posts across the province.

Additional restrictions were imposed to curb population movements and "prevent possible infiltration." These include the suspension of all mass gatherings, a ban on motorcycles, pedestrians, and vehicles with tinted windows in Kalemie after 10:00 p.m. local time, and a prohibition on nighttime religious gatherings. Security checkpoints have been set up across the city.

The security situation in Tanganyika has grown increasingly tense since the capture of Uvira, less than 400 km away from Kalemie. Although the M23 announced on Monday evening that it would withdraw from Uvira, no signs of such a pullout had been observed as of Wednesday. Enditem