In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the M23 rebel movement has announced it will begin withdrawing its fighters from the strategic city of Uvira, a significant development in a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands and raised fears of wider regional destabilisation. The announcement came after what the group described as pressure from United States mediators, highlighting the growing international stakes in efforts to contain the crisis.
M23, part of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition said it would pull its forces from Uvira as a “confidence-building measure” intended to support ongoing peace negotiations, particularly under the Qatar-mediated Doha peace process. The withdrawal is expected to be completed imminently, with the group urging calm among civilians and calling for security guarantees and neutral protection forces to prevent retaliation and ensure stability once its troops exit the city.
Uvira’s capture earlier this month had represented a major tactical gain for the rebels, occurring just days after a U.S.-brokered peace agreement was signed by the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda though the accord initially excluded M23 from formal negotiations. The group’s control of the city intensified conflict across South Kivu province and exacerbated humanitarian suffering, with large-scale displacement and civilian casualties reported. While the announcement has been welcomed by some diplomats as a potential de-escalation step, observers caution that the situation remains fragile. The DRC government itself has cast doubt on the move, suggesting earlier assurances of withdrawal may have been intended as a tactical diversion, and violence continues in parts of the eastern region despite declarations of pullbacks.
