The United States accused Rwanda on Monday of violating a US-brokered agreement by supporting a deadly offensive in eastern Congo and warned that President Donald Trump's administration would take action against those who "break" the agreement.
The comments by US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Volz come after more than 400 civilians have been killed since Rwandan-backed M23 rebels stepped up their offensive in South Kivu province in eastern Congo, according to regional officials. The officials also said Rwandan special forces were in the strategic town of Uvira.
Volz told the UN Security Council that the US was "deeply concerned and incredibly disappointed by the renewed outbreak of violence" by the M23 armed group.
"Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and war. We will use the tools at our disposal to hold those who disrupt the peace accountable," said Volz.
He called on Rwanda to abide by the commitments it has made and recognize the right of Congo to defend its territory and to invite neighboring and friendly Burundian forces into its territory to fight alongside Congolese forces.
Volz also said that the US is contacting all parties to appeal for restraint and avoidance of further escalation.
The latest offensive by the M23 group is being carried out despite the peace agreement signed last week in Washington, with US mediation, by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda.
The agreement did not include the M23 rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and earlier this year agreed to a ceasefire that both sides are accused of violating.
Under the agreement, Rwanda must cease support for armed groups and work towards an end to hostilities.
The rebel advance has brought the conflict within reach of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, raising fears that a wider regional conflict could erupt.
Congo's communications ministry confirmed in a statement today that the M23 group had captured the strategic port city of Uvira in eastern Congo at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and directly across from Burundi's largest city, Bujumbura.
The town of Uvira was the Congolese government's last stronghold in South Kivu after the provincial capital of Bukavu fell to rebels in February. Taking the town could help the rebels consolidate a wider corridor of influence across the east of the country.
M23 said it took control of Uvira on Wednesday afternoon after a rapid offensive since the beginning of the month. With more than 400 killed, about 200.000 people displaced, according to regional officials.
Congo, the US and United Nations experts accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 group, which had hundreds of members in 2021, while according to the UN, the group now has around 6.500 fighters.
Volz said Rwandan forces have provided supplies, logistics and training to the M23 group, and are fighting alongside them in eastern Congo with an estimated 5.000 to 7.000 troops as of early December.
Congolese Foreign Minister Theresa Kajikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of trampling on the peace agreement that "brought and continues to bring hope for a historic turnaround."
She warned that the credibility of the entire process was in question and called on the Security Council to impose sanctions against military and political leaders responsible for the attacks, to ban the export of minerals from Rwanda, and to prohibit Rwanda from providing troops for UN peacekeeping missions.
Rwanda's UN ambassador has accused Congo of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. He accused the Congolese government of supporting the Houthi-dominated Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which threatens the very survival of Rwanda and its people.
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