Rwanda's Peace Deal Violations Amidst Regional Tensions

The US has accused Rwanda of violating a US-brokered peace agreement by supporting a new offensive by the M23 rebels in eastern Congo. According to US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, more than 400 civilians have died since the conflict escalated, and Rwandan special forces have been reported in the strategic city of Uvira, taken by M23.

The US is profoundly concerned about the violence, with Waltz emphasizing that Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and that action will be taken against those undermining peace. The US-mediated peace deal, signed recently in Washington between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, aimed to halt Rwanda's support for armed groups like M23, which has grown significantly in strength, now boasting around 6,500 fighters.

Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has condemned Rwanda's actions as a violation of the peace accord, urging the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against those responsible for the attacks.

The humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo continues to worsen, with over 200,000 people displaced and fears of the conflict spilling over into neighboring Burundi as civilians flee the violence. The M23 offensive has created a significant corridor of influence across eastern Congo, raising alarms over regional stability and the potential for broader conflicts as over 100 armed groups compete for control in the mineral-rich region, according to reports from The Guardian.