M23 announces exit from DRC's Uvira as US-brokered ceasefire stutters

"The M23 armed group says it has agreed to a request from the United States to withdraw from the key town of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after seizing it last week. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes the M23 group, posted a signed statement on X on Tuesday that confirmed fighters would withdraw from the town located in South Kivu province, near the border with Burundi, as per United States mediation request."

"The coalition called the move a unilateral trust-building measure aimed at giving the Doha peace process the maximum chance to succeed, calling on guarantors of the peace process to oversee demilitarisation and protection of the town's population and infrastructure, and to monitor the ceasefire with the deployment of a neutral force. The Doha framework deal was agreed in November, establishing a roadmap to stop the deadly fighting and improve the humanitarian situation in the DRC."

M23 agreed to a United States request to withdraw from Uvira after seizing the town in South Kivu last week. Corneille Nangaa of the Alliance Fleuve Congo posted a signed statement on X confirming the planned withdrawal. Reporting from Uvira noted fighters remained in the town and the coalition warned past withdrawals were exploited by the Congolese army and allies to retake territory and target civilians. The seizure threatened a US-brokered peace between Kinshasa and Kigali and the Doha framework. The coalition called the withdrawal a unilateral trust-building measure and urged guarantors to oversee demilitarisation, protect civilians and deploy a neutral monitoring force.

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