DRC: United States Says AFC/M23 Withdrawal from Uvira Is Insufficient

New York, December 19, 2025 - The United States has stated that the withdrawal announced by the AFC/M23 armed group from the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province, is insufficient, calling for a broader pullback in line with existing agreements.

Speaking during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, the U.S. representative urged the Rwandan-backed rebel movement to withdraw at least 75 kilometers from Uvira, as stipulated in the framework agreement signed with the Congolese government.

The statement comes amid continued territorial expansion by the AFC/M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the group is accused of establishing a parallel administration, heightening concerns in Kinshasa and among international partners.

Uvira, considered a strategic hub for the Congolese government’s security apparatus, remains a focal point of tensions. The worsening security situation in eastern DRC coincides with the ratification on November 15, 2025, of the Washington agreements, which were intended to consolidate the ceasefire between Kinshasa and Kigali.