Rwanda-backed M23 rebels (Alliance Fleuve Congo/AFC-M23) have begun a conditional withdrawal from the strategic eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Uvira, following intense U.S. diplomatic pressure and amid fragile peace negotiations.

While the move is being presented as a trust-building gesture, skepticism remains over whether it will be fully implemented and lead to lasting de-escalation.

Political leader Bertrand Bisimwa announced on Wednesday that forces had started pulling out, with completion expected by Thursday, describing it as a “unilateral trust-building measure” requested by American mediators. Spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka shared videos of departing troops, urging calm among residents.

Uvira, a vital South Kivu port on Lake Tanganyika bordering Burundi, fell to M23 last week in a rapid offensive that defied the December 4 U.S.-brokered accord between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame. Kinshasa dismissed the withdrawal pledge as a “diversion,” with residents reporting rebel presence still visible mid-week.

Diplomatic Context

The move follows U.S. warnings that Rwanda violated the Washington Accords, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Kigali of coordinating the assault. Observers suggest the withdrawal reflects pressure from looming sanctions, though conditions such as demilitarization and neutral force monitoring may complicate the handover.

Humanitarian Impact

• 200,000+ displaced in South Kivu since December 2.
• 40,000+ Congolese fled to Burundi in one week.
• Hundreds of stranded Burundians returned home after negotiations.
• The UN warns of dire conditions in overwhelmed transit sites.

If verified, the withdrawal offers cautious hope for upcoming Doha peace talks, but volatility persists. Fighting continues elsewhere, rumors of unrest in Katanga circulate, and unresolved grievances—including the neutralization of FDLR militias and demands for political inclusion—remain major obstacles to durable peace.