DRC: Kinshasa Dismisses M23 Announcement as Rwandan “Diversion”

Kinshasa, December 17, 2025 - The Congolese government has dismissed the recent announcement by the AFC/M23 rebel movement, which claimed it was ready to withdraw from the city of Uvira under unspecified “security guarantees,” describing it as a “non-event” and a calculated diversion aimed at shielding Rwanda from responsibility.

Speaking in an interview with France 24, Patrick Muyaya, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, rejected the statement outright, accusing Kigali of backing the armed group and using it as a proxy in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The son (M23) is sacrificing himself to protect the father (Rwanda),” Muyaya said, arguing that recent Rwandan military offensives demonstrate that President Paul Kagame does not genuinely believe in the peace agreement brokered by the United States under former President Donald Trump.

The minister also warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in South Kivu, particularly in and around Uvira. According to government figures, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been internally displaced, while at least 85,000 refugees have fled across the border into Burundi.

Muyaya stressed that the only sustainable solution lies in the safe and peaceful return of displaced populations, a condition he said cannot be guaranteed by “those who govern through crimes.”

Reiterating Kinshasa’s position, the government spokesperson called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. “Leave our territory,” he said, urging national mobilization in defense of the country’s sovereignty.