UNSC Condemns Rwanda: The Security Council unanimously condemned Rwanda for backing the M23 offensive in eastern DRC and demanded a withdrawal. MONUSCO Extended: The UN peacekeeping mandate was renewed for one year. Humanitarian Crisis: The capture of Uvira has triggered a major humanitarian emergency, with tens of thousands fleeing to Burundi and hundreds of civilian deaths reported.
UN Security Council Condemns Rwanda, Demands Withdrawal After M23 Seizure of Uvira
M23 rebels have seized control of key cities in the eastern DRC, despite a US-brokered peace deal signed earlier this month [File: Reuters]
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously condemned Rwanda for supporting the M23 rebel offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and demanded Kigali withdraw its forces and cease backing the armed group. The Council also extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, for one year.
UN Response and Demands
The resolution, adopted unanimously on Friday, called on M23 to withdraw at least 75 km (47 miles) from the strategic city of Uvira and return to full compliance with its obligations under the Framework Agreement. Jennifer Locetta, the United States' representative to the UN, said the seizure of Uvira “risks destabilizing the whole region, gravely endangers civilian populations and imperils ongoing peace efforts.”
How the Offensive Unfolded
M23 captured Uvira in South Kivu province on December 10, less than a week after the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda met with then-US President Donald Trump in Washington to sign a peace accord. Trump described the meeting as a major achievement, but the swift return of fighting undermined that narrative.
“The only thing we need is peace. Anyone able to provide us with peace is welcome here,” said Uvira resident Feza Mariam, speaking to Al Jazeera. “We don’t know anything about the political process they are talking about.”
International Reactions and Accusations
International bodies and UN experts have assessed that Rwandan support has helped M23’s operations, a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied. The United States and other diplomats warned they would use available measures against those undermining the Washington accord. US officials have estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 Rwandan soldiers were operating in eastern DRC as of early December; the DRC has sought expanded sanctions in response.
Humanitarian And Regional Impact
The offensive has precipitated a major humanitarian emergency. The UN refugee agency reports more than 84,000 people fled into Burundi since early December, adding to roughly 200,000 earlier refugees there. Regional officials say more than 400 civilians have been killed in recent violence in and around Uvira. The wider conflict in mineral-rich eastern DRC — where more than 100 armed groups operate — has displaced over seven million people, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
Broader Context
Kigali justifies its operations by pointing to security threats from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia largely composed of Hutus who fled to the DRC after the 1994 genocide. Rwanda views the FDLR as an existential threat and accuses the DRC government of supporting the group. The seizure of Uvira — located across Lake Tanganyika from Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura — has raised fears of wider regional spillover.
Outlook
The UNSC resolution aims to pressure parties to de-escalate and allow humanitarian access, but diplomatic observers warn the situation remains fragile. The extended MONUSCO mandate will seek to protect civilians and support stabilization efforts, while international scrutiny and potential sanctions increase pressure on actors accused of fuelling the violence.
