The M23 armed group, which is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda, has announced that it will withdraw from the strategic town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a request from the United States. The announcement comes just days after the group seized the town, raising serious concerns about the durability of a recently signed, US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

The decision was confirmed on Tuesday by Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes the M23 movement. In a signed statement posted on social media platform X, Nangaa said fighters would pull out of Uvira, located in South Kivu province near the border with Burundi, in response to mediation efforts led by Washington.

Situation on the Ground Remains Unclear

Despite the announcement, reports from Uvira suggested that the situation had not yet changed. Speaking from the town, Al Jazeera correspondent Alain Uaykani said M23 fighters were still visible as of Tuesday morning.

Uaykani noted that the rebel coalition has previously expressed distrust toward the Congolese army and its allied forces, accusing them of using past withdrawals to reoccupy territory and retaliate against civilians suspected of sympathising with the rebels.

Strategic Capture Threatened Fragile Peace Process

The capture of Uvira last week dealt a major blow to ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at halting violence in eastern DRC. The takeover occurred shortly after Kinshasa and Kigali signed a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington, DC, and days after a separate framework agreement was concluded in Doha, Qatar, between the Congolese government and the rebel group.

The Doha agreement, reached in November, outlined a roadmap to reduce hostilities and address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. However, it left unresolved key questions regarding the M23’s full withdrawal from Congolese territory and long-term security arrangements.

In its statement, the AFC described the planned withdrawal from Uvira as a “unilateral trust-building measure”, intended to give the Doha peace process “the maximum chance to succeed”. The coalition called on international guarantors to oversee the demilitarisation of the town, protect civilians and infrastructure, and monitor the ceasefire through the deployment of a neutral force.

United States Warns of Consequences

The United States has taken a firm stance following the rebels’ advance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rwanda of a “clear violation” of the Washington Accords, despite Kigali’s continued denial of backing the M23.

Rubio said Washington was prepared to “take action to ensure promises made to the president are kept”, signalling potential diplomatic or political consequences if the ceasefire collapses.

Analysts believe the strong US reaction played a key role in prompting the withdrawal announcement.

Experts Question Rebel Motives

According to Paul-Simon Handy, East Africa regional director at the Institute for Security Studies, the seizure of Uvira was likely a negotiating tactic designed to strengthen the rebels’ leverage.

“M23’s actions were meant to create facts on the ground and pressure the Congolese government into making territorial and economic concessions,” Handy told Al Jazeera. He added that the withdrawal pledge appeared to be a direct response to Washington’s forceful intervention.

Handy also expressed scepticism about the rebels’ intentions, noting that similar patterns have emerged in the past.

“Wanting to give peace a chance would have meant not taking over Uvira in the first place,” he said. “This is a tactic we’ve seen before—take territory, announce a withdrawal, then return later.”

Regional Spillover Risks Grow

Uvira’s location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika makes it strategically significant, not only for the DRC but for the wider region. The fighting has brought instability close to Burundi’s border, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.

Burundi has maintained troops in eastern DRC for several years, and the latest escalation risks further entangling neighbouring countries in a conflict that has already killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people since January.

Fragile Ceasefire at a Critical Moment

While the M23’s announcement has raised cautious hopes of de-escalation, observers warn that the peace process remains extremely fragile. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the withdrawal materialises and whether international mediators can prevent renewed fighting.

For civilians in eastern DRC, long caught between armed groups and regional rivalries, the success or failure of these agreements will have life-altering consequences.