Rebel Leader in Eastern Congo Announces Withdrawal of Forces from Vital City Following U.S. Request
Corneille Nangaa, a rebel leader in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has announced his forces’ intention to withdraw from the strategic city of Uvira in response to a call from the United States.
Nangaa’s statements, as leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition, came days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the rebel occupation of the city. Rubio emphasized that the move violated the established truce and warned of necessary measures to ensure commitment to promises made to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Nangaa stated that the rebel forces would withdraw from inside Uvira as a “trust-building measure.”
The United States accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels, allegations that Rwanda denies. On December 4, Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a peace agreement with his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, at a ceremony in Washington attended by President Trump.
The U.S. President welcomed the agreement at the time, describing it as “historic” and a great day for Africa. The rebels were not a party to this agreement but are participating in a parallel peace process hosted by Qatar, an ally of both the U.S. and Rwanda.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) is a coalition of rebel groups that includes the M23 movement, the most powerful faction, which America and European countries accuse of being backed by Rwanda. The Congolese army is supported by forces from neighboring Burundi.
The M23 occupation of Uvira was a painful blow to the Congolese army, as the city is located only 27 kilometers from Burundi’s economic capital, Bujumbura, north of Lake Tanganyika.
“AFC/M23 will unilaterally withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira at the request of the American mediation initiative,” Nangaa said in his statement, asserting that this measure is taken to maximize the chances of success for the Qatari-mediated peace process.
Nangaa did not specify a date for the withdrawal but called for the deployment of a “neutral force” to monitor the truce and prevent the Congolese army from regaining control of the lost territories.
The United Nations stated that approximately 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Congo since the start of the new round of fighting earlier this month. It added that at least 74 people, mostly civilians, have died, while 83 others have been hospitalized for injuries.
Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by conflict for over three decades, with successive peace agreements failing to achieve lasting success.
The current U.S. administration hopes its peace efforts will succeed and pave the way for American companies to enhance their investments in the resource-rich region. In 2023, the U.S. State Department noted that Congo possesses mineral reserves estimated at $25 trillion, including cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, and tantalum—essential materials for electronics used in computers, electric vehicles, phones, drones, and military equipment.
The rebels made significant advances this year when they seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province near the Rwandan border. This forced the deployment of South African soldiers to assist the Congolese army, but those forces were compelled to withdraw after M23 took control of the city in January.
Shortly thereafter, the rebels seized the next major city in eastern Congo, Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Rebel forces then advanced toward Uvira, the last government stronghold in South Kivu, after breaking the defensive lines of the Congolese army, loyalist militias, and Burundian forces operating in the area.
The attack on Uvira began just days before Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi left for Washington to sign the agreement negotiated in June.
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