A rebel leader in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that his forces will withdraw from Uvira city at the request of the United States. Corneille Nangaa's statement follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks that the capture of Uvira violated a peace agreement. The rebels indicated that this withdrawal serves as a 'trust-building measure' to foster further dialogue.
The US maintains that Rwanda is backing the rebel factions, a claim Rwanda denies. However, Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a peace treaty with DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi earlier this month in Washington at a ceremony hosted by Donald Trump, who referred to the agreement as historic.
The US hopes this peace initiative will not only stabilize the region but will also open avenues for investments in the DR Congo's mineral-rich territories, which are crucial for global tech and defense industries. Currently, the region is experiencing a humanitarian crisis, with over 200,000 people forced to flee their homes amid recent fighting, and civilian casualties continue to rise.
Nangaa leads the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a coalition of various rebel groups, including the M23, which has recently captured strategic territories, further complicating an already tenuous situation for the Congolese army supported by Burundian troops.
The planned withdrawal from Uvira represents a moment of potential change in what has been a tumultuous conflict lasting over three decades. The international community waits to see if these diplomatic efforts can bring lasting peace to eastern DR Congo.
