The United States has expressed dissatisfaction with the M23 rebel group’s partial withdrawal from the strategic town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as clashes persist in the region. The development comes despite a US-brokered peace deal reaffirmed by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame during talks in Washington earlier this month.
US Stance on M23 Movements
A senior US official stated on December 23, 2025, that while most M23 fighters have left Uvira, the group remains positioned around the town, undermining efforts to stabilize the mineral-rich region. “We don’t feel it amounts to a complete liberation,” the official emphasized, citing reports of rebels donning police uniforms to maintain a presence.
Humanitarian and Regional Fallout
Recent fighting has displaced over 500,000 people in South Kivu province since early December, with 84,000 refugees fleeing to Burundi this month alone. The World Food Programme is expanding aid for 210,000 vulnerable individuals as regional tensions escalate. Rwanda denies backing M23, counter-accusing Congolese and Burundian forces of reigniting conflict—a claim contradicted by a July 2025 UN experts’ report linking Rwanda to the rebels.
Economic Toll and Long-Term Risks
The IMF warns that insecurity in North and South Kivu has already cost the DRC 0.4% of its GDP this year, with security spending nearing $3 billion. Mission chief Calixte Ahokpossi cautioned that prolonged cuts to social and infrastructure investments could jeopardize the country’s economic future.
Path Forward
While M23 engages in separate talks with Kinshasa in Qatar, Washington continues to mediate between regional stakeholders. However, sporadic gunfire near Uvira’s Kalundu neighborhood on December 23 underscores the fragility of current peace efforts.
