The Trump administration has voiced dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebel group from the strategic town of Uvira in eastern Congo. A senior U.S. official says the pullout is incomplete, with some fighters still present in the area. M23 seized Uvira on December 10, sparking fears of regional instability and violating a U.S.‑brokered peace deal. The capture marked the rebels’ biggest advance in months, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and killing thousands.
The United States had mediated a peace agreement between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame, a deal reaffirmed during their meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. After U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Rwanda’s actions in eastern Congo, M23 pledged to withdraw from Uvira to allow peace talks to proceed. However, Washington remains unsatisfied, citing a continued M23 presence around the city. Residents have reported some fighters wearing police uniforms rather than military attire.
Sporadic gunfire was reported in Uvira’s Kalundu neighborhood on Tuesday, with both M23 and the Congolese army blaming each other for the violence. Rwanda denies backing M23 and instead accuses Congolese and Burundian forces of perpetuating the conflict. A United Nations report released in July found that Rwanda exercises command and control over the rebel group.
The recent fighting has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. Over 84,000 refugees fled to Burundi this month, prompting the UN refugee agency to warn that the country may lack the capacity to accommodate the influx. In South Kivu province, around 500,000 people have been displaced since early December, leading the World Food Programme to scale up aid for vulnerable populations.
The conflict also carries significant economic implications for Congo. M23’s advance has cost the country roughly 0.4 percent of its GDP. The International Monetary Fund has warned that continued insecurity could hamper growth and future development, especially if investment and social programs are reduced. As the situation remains volatile, the international community continues to monitor developments, emphasizing the need for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
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