M23 insurgents to vacate captured Congolese city after US threat

In compliance with demands by the US government, the Rwanda-backed M23 terrorist group promised on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to withdraw from the strategic city of Uvira, which it captured last Wednesday. As reported by 7 Sur 7, M23 stipulates, however, that the “withdrawal depends on the implementation of security guarantees … including demilitarization, the protection of civilians and infrastructure, and the monitoring of the ceasefire through the deployment of a neutral force.” According to AP, Uvira residents said Tuesday that M23 insurgents are still in the town. Less than a week after the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, Rwandan special forces and foreign mercenaries supported M23 in capturing Uvira, with the Rwandan Defense Force using drones, GPS-guided mortars, and jammers. The offensive, which began at the beginning of December, resulted in the deaths of more than 400 civilians, including women, children, and young people, and the displacement of about 200,000 civilians. Although the US-led peace agreement did not include M23, it did require Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the DRC. UN experts estimate that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are still present in the DRC. On Saturday, US representative to the UN Mike Waltz accused Rwanda of violating the peace agreement signed in Washington and threatened that the United States will “use the tools at [its] disposal to hold to account spoilers to peace.”

Sources
Rwanda-backed M23 group says it will withdraw from seized Congo town after US request
Reuters
DRC: The AFC/M23 announces it will "unilaterally" withdraw its forces from Uvira at the request of the US
7 Sur 7
DRC: The M23 armed group claims it will withdraw from Uvira at Washington's request
AFP
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels say they will withdraw from seized city in eastern Congo
AP
M23 announces exit from DRC’s Uvira as US-brokered ceasefire stutters
Al Jazeera