A rebel leader in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that his fighters will withdraw from the key city of Uvira at the request of the United States.
Corneille Nangaa's statement follows comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizing the recent capture of Uvira by rebel forces, labeling it a violation of a peace agreement. In light of this, Nangaa stated that the withdrawal is intended as a trust-building measure.
The US has accused Rwanda of providing support to the rebels, a claim that Rwanda denies. The peace accord signed on December 4 by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi in Washington was aimed at stabilizing the region.
President Trump has characterized the agreement as historic, although the rebels were not participants in the deal and are engaged in a separate peace process facilitated by Qatar.
Nangaa, who heads the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition encompassing various rebel groups, including the influential M23, revealed that the group intends to withdraw to give Qatar's mediation process the best chance of success.
The situation in eastern DR Congo remains dire, with the United Nations reporting that approximately 200,000 individuals have fled their homes since the flare-up of fighting earlier this month, resulting in numerous casualties.
The region has long been affected by conflict, with the continual struggle over mineral wealth drawing international attention. The US sees potential for investment in the area, which is rich in cobalt, copper, and other essential minerals.
As the AFC/M23 prepares for a unilateral withdrawal from Uvira, calls have been made for the establishment of a neutral force to oversee a ceasefire and prevent further escalations with DR Congo's armed forces and their Burundian allies.
