🔴 The US says it’s still not convinced the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have completely left Uvira, a strategic town in eastern DR Congo, even though most fighters moved out last week. Residents in Uvira reported sporadic gunfire on Tuesday morning, showing tensions aren’t easing yet.
Here’s the backstory: on December 10, M23 seized Uvira near the Burundi border, days after meetings between DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwanda’s leader Paul Kagame and US President Donald Trump confirmed a US-brokered peace deal. The advance sparked fears of wider regional conflict.
After US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called out Rwanda’s role in eastern DR Congo, M23 pledged to withdraw to give talks a shot. But a senior US official told Reuters that while there’s been some movement, they don’t see a full pullout. Locals say some fighters even swapped army uniforms for police gear and remain around the city.
💔 Human impact:
- 84,000+ refugees fled into Burundi this December, overwhelming its capacity
- 500,000 people displaced in South Kivu province since early December
- World Food Programme scaling up aid for 210,000 vulnerable people
📉 Economic toll: IMF mission chief Calixte Ahokpossi estimates M23’s 2025 advances in North and South Kivu shaved off about 0.4% of DR Congo’s GDP. Exceptional security spending is nearing $3 billion. If insecurity drags on, cuts to investment and social programmes could hit growth and the country’s future prospects.
Why it matters: continued instability risks regional spillover, strains local communities and challenges relief efforts. Like when you’ve rallied online for climate action or humanitarian aid, social media solidarity can push for real peace on the ground. 🌍💪
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
