Rwanda Accuses DRC and Burundi of Violating Peace Deal Amid M23 Advance on Uvira

Rwanda has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi of breaking a new peace deal. The accusations came after Rwandan-backed M23 fighters entered the city of Uvira. The statement was released Wednesday, a day after the militia reached the border near Burundi.

The M23 moved into Uvira late Tuesday. The United States and European powers had urged them to halt the offensive. They also called on Rwanda to pull troops from eastern DRC. Despite the warnings, M23 pressed on to capture the last major settlement in South Kivu province. Congolese soldiers reportedly mingled with fleeing civilians crossing into Burundi. Burundi has sent troops to help DRC forces fight the Rwanda-backed militia.

Rwanda denied any wrongdoing. The foreign ministry said Congolese and Burundian armies had “systematically” bombed villages near the Rwandan border. They added that the AFC/M23, a military-political coalition, had to respond. Rwanda described these actions as “deliberate obstacles to peace.”

The peace deal was signed on December 4 with US President Donald Trump’s involvement. It aimed to end decades of conflict in eastern DRC. Both Kinshasa and Kigali have accused each other of violations within days of signing.

M23’s offensive comes nearly a year after capturing Goma and Bukavu, two key cities in the mineral-rich region. Eastern DRC has faced instability for more than 30 years.

Burundi sees Uvira’s fall as a major threat. The city lies across Lake Tanganyika from its economic capital, Bujumbura. Burundi initially sent 10,000 troops in October 2023 and later increased forces to around 18,000. The capture of Uvira could escalate tensions and threaten regional security.