M23 announces withdrawal from Uvira following US pressure

The M23 rebel movement has announced the withdrawal of its forces from the city of Uvira, located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This decision follows a request from mediators from the United States.

For the past year, M23 has been engaged in conflict with Congolese armed forces in the region, resulting in significant civilian casualties and displacements.

A peace agreement was signed on Tue, Dec 4, 2023, in Washington by the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda. However, the M23 was not part of these negotiations. Subsequently, M23 forces captured Uvira, which is strategically positioned near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda.

The M23 has stated that their withdrawal is being conducted "for the sake of peace," with reports confirming the voluntary departure of their troops. The complete withdrawal is anticipated to conclude on Thursday.

Based on reporting by Africanews.