Top US diplomat Marco Rubio said Saturday that Rwanda had clearly violated last week’s Washington peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Rwandan-backed M23 armed group seized the key border city of Uvira, advancing in eastern DRC just days after the Washington Accords were signed.
Rubio vowed unspecified “action” in response, writing on X that the United States would ensure the promises made to President Trump were enforced.
The capture of Uvira, along the Burundi border, has heightened fears that the conflict could escalate into a wider regional war.
M23 launched its offensive earlier this month in South Kivu province, following previous captures of Goma and Bukavu in DRC’s mineral-rich east.
Trump had touted the DRC conflict as one of several wars he helped resolve since returning to the White House, highlighting the stakes.
On Friday, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused Rwanda of pushing the region toward instability and potential war through military support.
Waltz said Rwandan forces have provided materiel, logistics, and fought alongside M23 with an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 troops, not counting reinforcements.
The Rwandan military’s firepower reportedly included drones, surface-to-air missiles, and artillery, amplifying the group’s capability and spreading fear across the region.
Since 2021, M23’s resurgence has displaced tens of thousands, carrying out summary executions and forcing mass displacement according to UN experts.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the escalating violence continues to worsen an already dire crisis, leaving civilians trapped amid shifting frontlines and armed aggression.