US Urges Rebel Withdrawal from Uvira Amidst Conflict in DR Congo

Sat Dec 20 2025 12:17:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Rebels in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo, announce their withdrawal from the city at the request of the United States, signaling implications for peace efforts in a region beset by longstanding conflict.

Corneille Nangaa, a leader of the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has stated that his forces will pull out of Uvira city in response to a US request. This comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern over the recent rebel capture of the key city, emphasizing that such actions violate existing peace deals. The rebels aim to support ongoing peace negotiations brokered by Qatar, while the US accused Rwanda of backing these rebels, an allegation Rwanda denies. The conflict has displaced thousands and prompted international peace efforts amidst a humanitarian crisis.

A rebel leader in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo says his fighters will withdraw from a key city at the request of the US.

Corneille Nangaa's statement came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the capture of Uvira by rebel forces violated a peace deal, and the US would take action to ensure promises made to the President [Donald Trump] are kept.

Nangaa said that rebel forces would pull out of the city as a trust-building measure.

The US accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels. Rwanda denies the allegation, but its President, Paul Kagame, signed a peace accord on 4 December with his DR Congo counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi, at a ceremony in Washington hosted by Trump.

The US president hailed the deal as historic and a great day for Africa.

The rebels were not signatories to it - and have been taking part in a parallel peace process led by Qatar, a US ally that has strong ties with Rwanda.

Nangaa is the coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a coalition of rebel groups, including the M23, which is alleged to be backed by Rwanda.

DR Congo's army receives support from troops from neighbouring Burundi.

The M23's capture of Uvira is significant due to its proximity to Burundi's economic capital, Bujumbura.

AFC/M23 will unilaterally withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira as requested by the United States mediation, Nangaa stated, emphasizing that this action is meant to enhance the probability of success for the Qatar-brokered peace process.

While Nangaa did not specify when the withdrawal would occur, he called for a neutral force to oversee a ceasefire and prevent the Congolese army from recapturing lost territory.

Since early this month, around 200,000 people have fled their homes due to escalated fighting, with reports of significant casualties among civilians.

The US is hopeful that its peace initiative will lay the groundwork for increased investment from American companies in the country's rich natural resources, including minerals critical for modern technology.