In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 rebel faction has declared the commencement of its withdrawal from the strategically vital city of Uvira. This announcement follows intense diplomatic pressure from the United States, which has simultaneously issued allegations of Rwandan support for the insurgents—a claim vehemently denied by Kigali.
The capture of Uvira, situated near the Burundian border, represents a major escalation despite the recent signing of a US-brokered peace agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan governments on December 4th. The seizure triggered immediate condemnation from Washington, accompanied by warnings of potential sanctions against Rwanda.
M23 leadership, including commander Bertrand Bisimwa, confirmed the withdrawal process was ‘underway,’ characterizing the move as a concession ‘for the sake of peace.’ Through social media channels, Bisimwa appealed to international mediators to ensure protection for the city against potential reprisals and remilitarization.
However, the declared withdrawal has been met with profound skepticism from both local residents and the Congolese government. DR Congo’s official spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, described the announcement as a potential ‘diversion’ tactic intended to influence the American mediation team. Ground reports from Uvira residents early Thursday revealed continued movement of M23 vehicles throughout the city, casting doubt on the sincerity of the pullout.
The humanitarian impact of the offensive has been severe, with UN agencies reporting dozens of fatalities, at least 100 wounded, and approximately 200,000 displaced persons. An additional 30,000 civilians sought refuge across the border in Burundi.
This development occurs against the backdrop of parallel peace processes—the Washington agreement between nation-states and a separate Qatar-mediated negotiation involving the rebels themselves, highlighting the complex multilateral efforts to resolve the persistent instability in the region.