DR Congo-Rwanda: M23 Rebels Withdraw from Key City of Uvira

Does the withdrawal mark the beginning of enforceable pressure, or merely a pause that will reveal the true strength of the Washington Accords?

Published 20 hours ago

DR Congo-Rwanda: M23 Rebels Withdraw from Key City of Uvira

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Above: A M23 member looks on during an enrollment to join the M23 movement in Goma on Feb. 23, 2025. Image credit: Michel Lunanga/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Trump’s Washington Accords are no longer theoretical. The M23 withdrawal from Uvira demonstrates that sustained U.S. pressure on Rwanda is yielding tangible results on the ground. Unlike past initiatives, the deal ties diplomatic engagement to measurable outcomes and leadership accountability. By forcing regional actors to act rather than posture, it revives a peace process that had long stagnated, demonstrating that the agreement is alive, enforceable, and capable of changing realities for civilians in eastern Congo.

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Anti-Trump narrative

Early claims that the Washington Accords delivered peace now look deeply misleading. The M23 pullback from Uvira reflects tactical repositioning, rather than meaningful pressure, after Rwanda openly violated the deal with a massive force. Far from demonstrating leverage, the episode shows how easily Trump’s diplomacy was brushed aside. The accords failed to constrain Kigali, revealing a familiar pattern of spectacle without enforcement, where announcements replace accountability and civilians once again bear the cost.

The Voice of Africa Le Monde.fr BBC News