US Accuses Rwanda of Violating Trump-Brokered Peace Deal Over Eastern Congo Offensive

The United States has accused Rwanda of breaching a peace agreement signed with President Donald Trump, as Rwandan-backed forces continue to advance in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Rwanda’s actions amounted to a clear violation of the Washington Accords, warning that Washington would respond to ensure commitments made under the deal were upheld. In a post on X, Rubio stated that Rwanda’s conduct in eastern Congo had undermined the agreement and that the United States would take action, without specifying the measures under consideration.

The warning follows the capture of Uvira, a strategic town near the border with Burundi, a development that has heightened concerns that the long-running conflict in eastern DRC could escalate into a broader regional war. The seizure of Uvira is part of an offensive launched in early December in South Kivu province by the M23 armed group, which has already taken control of major cities including Goma and Bukavu earlier this year.

President Trump has repeatedly cited the DRC conflict as one of several wars he claimed to have helped bring to an end since returning to the White House, making the renewed fighting a significant diplomatic setback.

On Friday, the United States sharpened its criticism at the United Nations, with US Ambassador Mike Waltz accusing Rwanda of driving the region toward deeper instability and open conflict. Addressing the UN Security Council, Waltz alleged that Rwandan defence forces had provided extensive material, logistical, and training support to the M23, and had also fought alongside the group inside the DRC.

According to Waltz, between 5,000 and 7,000 Rwandan troops have been operating in support of the M23, not including potential reinforcements deployed during the latest offensive. He added that Rwandan military support has included advanced weaponry such as surface-to-air missiles, drones, and artillery.

The M23 rebellion, which resumed large-scale fighting in 2021, has since seized vast areas of territory in eastern Congo, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and fuelling a deepening humanitarian crisis in the mineral-rich region.

Earlier this month, United Nations experts reported that Rwanda’s army and M23 fighters were responsible for summary executions and forced mass displacements of civilians during operations in the area, further intensifying international concern over the conduct of the conflict.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the M23, but pressure has continued to mount from the United States and other international actors as fighting spreads and the risk of regional destabilisation grows.