Wayne Lumbasi
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has announced that it will withdraw its forces from the eastern Congolese town of Uvira, following a direct request from the United States. The decision comes just days after the group seized the strategic town, raising alarm over regional stability and the fragile peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
M23 described the withdrawal as a “unilateral trust-building measure” intended to support ongoing peace negotiations taking place in Doha, Qatar. The group called for the demilitarization of Uvira, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and the deployment of neutral monitors to ensure that any ceasefire is respected. While the announcement signals a step toward dialogue, reports indicate that some fighters remain in parts of the town, suggesting that the pullback may take time to be fully implemented.
The seizure of Uvira had threatened to undermine a U.S.-brokered peace agreement signed earlier in December between the DRC and Rwanda, known as the Washington Accords. The accord aimed to reduce hostilities and restore state authority in eastern Congo. U.S. officials had strongly condemned the M23 advance, warning that violations of the agreement could carry serious consequences. The withdrawal reflects international pressure and the delicate balance of diplomacy in the region.
Uvira’s location on Lake Tanganyika near the Burundi border makes it a strategically significant town. Its recent capture displaced thousands of residents and worsened an already fragile humanitarian situation in South Kivu province. The M23’s pledge to withdraw offers a potential reprieve for civilians and a window for renewed diplomatic engagement between the rebel group and the Congolese government.
The Congolese government has yet to formally respond to the announcement, but military leaders have reiterated their determination to regain full control of the territory. As M23 prepares to pull back, attention remains focused on whether the withdrawal will be fully realized and whether the fragile peace process can gain momentum in the coming weeks.
DR CONGO AND RWANDA TENSIONS
DRC AND RWANDA SIGN PEACE DEAL, OPENING THE DOOR FOR U.S. ACCESS TO CRITICAL MINERALS
M23 DEEPENS CONTROL IN EASTERN CONGO DESPITE A PEACE AGREEMENT BACKED BY THE UNITED STATES
DR CONGO & M23 REBELS RESUME QATAR-BROKERED PEACE TALKS IN DOHA
