M23 rebels announced on Tuesday that they would withdraw from Uvira, the strategic city in eastern Congo that they seized last week, even as fighting escalates.
Withdrawal Ordered by the U.S.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, said the withdrawal was requested by the U.S. and is a “unilateral trust-building measure” to facilitate the peace process. The statement also called for the demilitarization of Uvira, the protection of its population and infrastructure, and the monitoring of the ceasefire through the deployment of a neutral force. It did not say whether M23’s withdrawal is contingent on implementing these measures.
Current Situation in Uvira
Uvira residents said Tuesday that the rebels were still in the town. M23 took control of the city last week following a rapid offensive launched at the start of the month. More than 400 people have been killed and about 200,000 displaced, regional officials say.
U.S.-Mediated Peace Deal
The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed earlier this month by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington. The U.S. last week accused Rwanda of violating the agreement by backing the new rebel advance in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal. The accord obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities. It did not include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating.
Regional Spillover into Burundi
The rebel push into Uvira brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover. Around 64,000 refugees from Congo have arrived in Burundi since the start of the month, according to the U.N. refugee agency. There have also been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border.
Size of M23 and the Humanitarian Crisis
Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N. More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.
Key Takeaways
- M23 rebels plan withdrawal from Uvira, requested by the U.S., but residents report rebels still present.
- Over 400 killed and 200,000 displaced in Uvira following the recent offensive.
- The U.S.-mediated peace deal obliges Rwanda to stop supporting armed groups, yet tensions continue.
The situation remains fluid as M23’s withdrawal, the U.S. peace agreement, and regional dynamics converge, underscoring the fragile state of security in eastern Congo and its neighboring countries.
