US senator Linsdsey Graham has criticised the Congolese army coalition for allegedly attacking fighters of the M23 rebel movement even as they withdraw from the recntly captured city of Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However writing on X formerly Twitter, a displeased Senator Graham said although it is a welcome development that M23 troops are withdrawing from Uvira, ”I am disheartened to hear these withdrawing troops are being attacked”.
He called on the United States to maintain its leadership role and brings the parties back to the negotiating table two weeks after DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame ratified a peace deal in Washington.
M23 recently announced a unilateral ceasefire following weeks of heavy fighting during which they took Uvira.
However the rebel coalition group’s deputy coordinator Bertrand Bisimwa said Congolese troops have been attacking their positions as they withdraw from Uvira.
”Ths morning 19 December 2025, at 6am to now, Mikenke area is under heavy bombings by the Kinshasa regime’s coalition forces” he said on Friday.
Mikenke is a settlement located on a high plain in South Kivu which is on the M23 fighters line of retreat since the group stopped its offensive.
The DR Congo military have been launching assault on positions of the retreating M23, using drones and jetfighters, combat helicopters from Burundian territory, Bisimwa said.
The DRC and Burundi have not commented.
The signing of the peace deal in Washington on December 4th, witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump was to bring a definitive end to the conflict in eastern DR Congo. It also meant stopping armed support for M23, the pull out of Rwandan troops from the restive region and fostering economic ties between Rwanda and DR Congo.
However, as the Washington peace initiative was taking place, fighting has continued on the ground in eastern DR Congo, leaving many analysts questioning whether the deal will hold long enough.
WN/as/APA