DR Congo Rebel Coalition Announces Uvira Withdrawal Following US Request
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition has stated its intention to withdraw forces from the city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). This decision follows a request from the United States, as confirmed by AFC coordinator Corneille Nangaa.
Context of US Involvement
The announcement comes days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the AFC's capture of Uvira violated a peace agreement. Rubio had previously stated the US would "take action to ensure promises made to the President [Donald Trump] are kept" regarding the conflict.
The United States has accused Rwanda of supporting the AFC rebels, an allegation Rwanda denies. Despite this, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi signed a peace accord on December 4 in Washington, hosted by then-President Trump. This agreement was hailed by Trump as "historic." The AFC rebels were not signatories to this particular accord but have been participating in a separate peace process facilitated by Qatar, a US ally with ties to Rwanda.
Strategic Significance and Rebel Demands
The AFC coalition includes the M23, a significant force that European countries and the US allege is supported by Rwanda. DR Congo's army receives support from neighboring Burundi. Uvira's capture by the M23 represented a strategic gain, located approximately 27 km (17 miles) from Burundi's economic capital, Bujumbura, on Lake Tanganyika.
Nangaa specified that the withdrawal from Uvira is a "trust-building measure" intended to provide the Qatar-brokered peace process with the "maximum chance to succeed." He did not provide a specific timeline for the withdrawal but called for the establishment of a "neutral force" to monitor a ceasefire and prevent the DR Congo army from reclaiming lost territory.
Humanitarian Impact and Historical Conflict
The United Nations reports that an estimated 200,000 people have been displaced in eastern DR Congo since the latest escalation of fighting began early this month. Casualty figures include at least 74 fatalities, predominantly civilians, and 83 individuals hospitalized with injuries. The eastern DR Congo region has experienced over 30 years of conflict, with previous peace initiatives largely unsuccessful.
US Economic Interests
The Trump administration expressed hopes that its peace initiative would facilitate increased US corporate investments in the resource-rich region. The US State Department reported in 2023 that DR Congo possesses an estimated $25 trillion (£21.2 trillion) in mineral reserves. These resources include cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, and tantalum, which are essential for manufacturing electronic components used in various technologies such as computers, electric vehicles, mobile phones, wind turbines, and military hardware.
Recent Military Developments
The rebels initiated a significant advance earlier this year, capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda. South African troops had been deployed to support the DR Congo army but were compelled to withdraw after the M23 seized Goma in January. Subsequently, the rebels captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. The offensive on Uvira, which was the government's remaining major stronghold in South Kivu, occurred after rebel forces breached the defense lines of the DR Congo army, allied militias, and Burundian troops. This offensive commenced days prior to Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi traveling to Washington to ratify the agreement initially drafted in June.