In a severe blow to international diplomacy, the M23 rebel faction has seized control of Uvira, a pivotal port city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This military advance directly undermines a peace agreement, mediated by the United States and signed just days prior by the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda. Washington has issued a stark condemnation, explicitly accusing Rwanda of orchestrating the offensive in violation of the nascent accord.
The capture of Uvira, situated on the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika, represents a significant strategic and symbolic gain for the insurgents. The city serves as a crucial commercial gateway and lies directly opposite Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, thereby escalating the conflict to the doorstep of another nation with a military presence in the region. Congolese officials report that the assault has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians since the offensive in South Kivu province intensified.
This development casts a long shadow over what was recently heralded as a diplomatic breakthrough. Last week, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame convened in Washington to formalize a deal intended to de-escalate the decades-long turmoil in Congo’s mineral-rich east. A cornerstone of the agreement was Kigali’s commitment to cease all support for armed groups, including the M23. However, the rebels, who were not signatories to the US-brokered pact and are engaged in separate talks facilitated by Qatar, have dramatically escalated hostilities instead.
The United States has responded with unequivocal criticism. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz asserted that "Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and war." This accusation echoes longstanding claims from UN experts and Western nations that Rwanda provides military backing to the Tutsi-led M23, allegations Kigali consistently denies. The offensive is perceived as a profound embarrassment to American diplomatic efforts, previously praised by former President Donald Trump.
Analysts interpret the timing and scale of the rebel operation as a calculated move to strengthen their negotiating position. "The assault on Uvira flies in the face of all the negotiations that are under way," noted regional specialist Professor Jason Stearns in an interview with the BBC. The M23 itself declared it had "fully liberated" the city, suggesting a view within rebel circles that greater territorial control translates to increased leverage.
The implications are grave and extend beyond the DRC’s borders. The conflict now threatens to draw in neighboring Burundi more directly, risking a wider regional conflagration. The shattered peace deal leaves a vacuum, with the US warning it will employ available measures to hold "spoilers to peace" accountable. The seizure of Uvira not only humiliates international mediators but also plunges eastern Congo into deeper uncertainty, demonstrating the formidable challenges of imposing a political solution on a deeply entrenched and complex conflict.