The United States has accused Rwanda of breaching a US-brokered peace agreement after M23 rebels seized the strategic eastern Congolese city of Uvira, escalating violence in South Kivu province and deepening regional tensions in the Great Lakes region.
Speaking at the United Nations, US ambassador Mike Waltz warned that those undermining peace efforts would be held accountable, as Washington openly blamed Rwanda for backing the renewed offensive by the M23 rebel group. The rebels’ advance marks one of the most serious flare-ups in months in the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Congolese officials say more than 400 civilians have been killed since the latest escalation began, with thousands more displaced. Security sources also claim Rwandan special forces were present in Uvira, a key commercial and administrative hub near the border with Burundi, raising concerns about direct foreign involvement in the conflict.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting the M23, despite mounting evidence presented by the Congolese government, the United Nations, and Western powers. The rebel group, which briefly seized large swathes of eastern Congo in previous years, has re-emerged as a dominant force, exploiting weak state control and long-standing ethnic and political grievances.
The US-brokered agreement, aimed at de-escalating tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa, had called for an end to external support for armed groups and a renewed commitment to regional dialogue. Washington’s sharp rebuke signals growing frustration with what it sees as deliberate efforts to derail diplomatic progress.
The renewed fighting threatens to destabilise the wider region, which has already endured decades of conflict linked to armed groups, cross-border rivalries and competition over Congo’s vast mineral resources, including coltan, cobalt and gold.
International pressure is now mounting on Rwanda to withdraw any alleged support for the rebels, as humanitarian agencies warn that the situation in South Kivu is rapidly deteriorating, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
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