Rwanda-backed M23 militants take strategic Eastern Congo town

M23 militants have entered the Eastern Congo town of Uvira in a breach of peace agreements signed last week, reports France 24 on 11th December. The Congolese army has retreated after the Rwanda-backed fighters took control of the strategic town, close to the borders with Burundi.

Rwanda has blamed Kinshasa and Burundi for the breach, claiming they had bombed villages close to the borders, and that Rwandan forces were not involved in the latest escalation of violence.

Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame met in Washington on December 4th to sign US-brokered agreements, with Rwanda pledging to withdraw from Congo.

France 24, Maghrebi.org