Uvira: The Rwanda backed M23 rebel group has said it will withdraw from the eastern Congolese town of Uvira after a request from the United States raising cautious hopes for easing tensions in a conflict that has displaced thousands of civilians in recent weeks.
In a statement released on Monday the M23 leadership said the planned pullback was a goodwill gesture aimed at giving peace efforts a chance to succeed. The group said the decision followed direct appeals from the United States which has been mediating between the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to prevent further escalation.
Uvira a strategic town near the border with Burundi was seized by M23 fighters last week during a rapid advance that came soon after renewed diplomatic efforts to calm the crisis in eastern Congo. The takeover shocked residents and forced many families to flee amid fears of renewed fighting.
M23 officials said their fighters would move out of the town and reposition several kilometres away to allow for the creation of a buffer zone. They described the move as a trust building step and said it should be matched by restraint from Congolese government forces.
However the situation on the ground remains uncertain. Local residents and security sources said some M23 fighters were still visible in and around Uvira hours after the announcement. The Congolese army has also said it remains prepared to re enter the town if the rebels do not fully withdraw.
The latest developments come amid growing international pressure on Rwanda which has long been accused by Congo and the United Nations of backing the M23 group. Rwanda has denied providing military support but Western governments including the United States have warned that continued rebel advances threaten ongoing peace efforts.
Just days before the withdrawal announcement fighting elsewhere in eastern Congo led to reports that hundreds of Burundian soldiers allied with Congolese forces had been captured by M23 fighters highlighting the regional impact of the conflict.
The renewed violence has worsened the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Aid agencies estimate that nearly two hundred thousand people have been displaced in recent weeks adding to the millions already uprooted by years of conflict in the mineral rich region.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing on several fronts. While Congo and Rwanda have reaffirmed commitments to reduce tensions M23 has been involved in separate discussions aimed at halting hostilities. It remains unclear whether the announced withdrawal from Uvira will lead to lasting calm.
For civilians in Uvira and nearby areas safety remains the main concern. Many residents say they will wait to see whether the rebels fully leave before returning to their homes as fear and uncertainty still grip the town.