Trump's 'historic' peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 7 min read 100% complete December 13, 2025 at 02:37 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

A peace deal brokered by the U.S. between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda is faltering after the M23 rebel group seized the key city of Uvira in eastern DR Congo. The US ambassador to the UN has accused Rwanda of escalating conflict in the region. Despite Rwanda's denial, the US and European powers accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 offensive. The M23 rebels were not signatories to the US-brokered deal, instead participating in a separate peace process led by Qatar. Analysts suggest the M23's actions are aimed at gaining leverage in negotiations and forcing Burundi to withdraw troops from the region. The seizure of Uvira, strategically important due to its proximity to Burundi and the presence of Burundian troops, undermines ongoing negotiations and risks further escalating the conflict.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Qatar 50% United States ×260% Paul Kagame ×270% DR Congo ×270% Félix Tshisekedi ×270% M23 rebel group ×380% Donald Trump ×480% Rwanda ×380%

Keywords

dr congo 90% peace deal 90% m23 rebel group 80% rwanda 80% conflict escalation 70% uvira 70% south kivu 60% negotiations 60% burundi 50% regional war 40%