Rwanda has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi of deliberately violating a newly agreed ceasefire in eastern DRC, just days after a peace accord was signed in Washington.
The allegation comes amid fresh clashes, as M23 rebels—backed by Rwanda—reportedly advanced into the strategic city of Uvira, near the Burundian border, late Tuesday. Uvira is the latest major town to fall in the long-troubled, mineral-rich region.
The renewed fighting has pushed thousands of civilians and dozens of Congolese soldiers to flee into neighbouring Burundi. According to military sources, Burundi has also deployed troops in support of the DRC against the M23 and its Rwandan allies.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Rwanda’s foreign ministry insisted that the latest violations “cannot be placed on Rwanda.”
The ministry alleged that “the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the Burundian Army (FDNB)… have been systematically bombing civilian villages near the Rwandan border using fighter jets and attack drones.”
The statement added that the M23 claimed it acted only in response to these attacks.
“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace,” the ministry said.
The escalation threatens to unravel a ceasefire deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and signed by Kinshasa and Kigali less than a week earlier, on December 4.
In response to the latest fighting, the United States and several European nations issued a joint statement on Tuesday calling on the M23 and Rwanda to halt their offensive immediately.
