Key Rebel Withdrawal in DR Congo at US Request

Wed Dec 17 2025 01:20:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant shift in the conflict in eastern DR Congo, rebel leader Corneille Nangaa states that his fighters will withdraw from the city of Uvira, following a request from the United States amidst ongoing peace negotiations.

Rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced their intention to withdraw from the strategic city of Uvira under the request of the United States. This decision comes after claims of US mediation highlighted violations of a recent peace deal. The M23 rebels' actions have added pressure on the region, prompting a humanitarian crisis as thousands of people flee their homes. Despite the withdrawal, calls for a neutral monitoring force underscore ongoing tensions and fears of the conflict’s resurgence.

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, a claim that Rwanda denies. However, Rwandan President Paul Kagame endorsed a peace accord with DR Congo's President, Felix Tshisekedi, recently in Washington.

The Trump administration views this deal as historic for the region.

Nangaa's Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition includes the M23, a group accused of receiving Rwandan support. The rebel group's hold on Uvira, only 27km from the Burundian capital Bujumbura, poses a serious challenge to the DR Congo army.

With around 200,000 people displaced due to the recent violence, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating. The US hopes that its peace initiative will stabilize the resource-rich region, critical for global electronics and electric vehicle industries.