The United States has expressed dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of Rwanda-linked M23 rebels from the eastern Congolese town of Uvira, citing continued militant presence and renewed clashes in surrounding areas, according to a senior U.S. official.
Although M23 announced last week that it would pull its forces out of Uvira to allow peace talks to proceed, Washington says the move has fallen short of a full withdrawal. Residents and local sources reported ongoing gunfire and sightings of armed fighters near the town on Tuesday, raising doubts about the durability of the pullback.
Background to the Crisis
M23 fighters captured Uvira, a strategically located town near the Burundi border, on December 10. The takeover occurred just days after Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington and reaffirmed support for a U.S.-brokered peace framework aimed at stabilising eastern Congo.
The seizure marked M23’s most significant territorial gain in months and intensified concerns about a wider regional conflict in the Great Lakes region, where fighting since January has killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.
U.S. Response
After U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly accused Rwanda of violating the peace deal through its actions in eastern Congo, M23 said it would withdraw from Uvira. However, a senior U.S. official told Reuters that the situation on the ground does not meet expectations.
“There has been some movement, but we do not believe this amounts to a complete liberation of the town,” the official said, adding that M23 fighters remain positioned around Uvira.
Two residents reported seeing some fighters inside the town wearing police uniforms rather than military gear, while sporadic gunfire was heard from hills overlooking the Kalundu neighbourhood.
Conflicting Claims
Both the Congolese army and M23 have accused each other of violating the ceasefire and triggering recent clashes. Rwanda continues to deny backing the rebel group, instead blaming Congolese and Burundian forces for renewed fighting.
However, a United Nations panel of experts reported in July that Rwanda exercised command and control over M23, a finding Kigali has rejected.
Humanitarian and Economic Impact
The renewed violence has deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis:
• More than 84,000 people have fled into neighbouring Burundi this month, overwhelming reception facilities, according to the UN refugee agency.
• Around 500,000 people have been displaced in South Kivu province since early December.
• The World Food Programme is expanding assistance to at least 210,000 vulnerable people.
The conflict is also straining Congo’s economy. According to the International Monetary Fund, M23’s rapid advances in North and South Kivu this year have cost the country about 0.4% of GDP, while exceptional security spending is approaching $3 billion.
IMF mission chief Calixte Ahokpossi warned that prolonged insecurity could force cuts to investment and social programmes, undermining long-term economic growth.
Diplomatic Track
While M23 is not formally part of the Washington-mediated negotiations, it is holding separate talks with the Congolese government in Qatar, adding another layer of complexity to efforts to end one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts.
For now, U.S. officials say concrete action on the ground — not promises — will determine whether peace efforts can move forward.
Source: Africa Publicity
