Description: In line with the peace agreement concluded between the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC, Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi, M23 rebel forces pledged to withdraw from the city of Uvira in eastern Congo last week. Despite those pledges, civilian reports from the city and statements from Tshisekedi claimed that the Congo River Alliance rebel coalition is yet to withdraw its armed forces from the city as an act of good faith and continued implementation of the peace agreement. The M23 rebels launched a lightning offensive last week, capturing the city of Uvira which enabled them to control larger parts of eastern Congo and establish a footprint towards the mineral – rich city of Katanga. Presidents from Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe pledged support for the peace initiative and stated their commitment to send peacekeeping troops in the war affected regions of the DRC.
Impact: The conflict in the DRC is entering a significant stage of development where all the vested stakeholders are vying for prevalence for the post – war control of territories. Rwanda through its proxy forces continues to solidify its control on the eastern parts of the DRC, while countries such as Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe are pointlessly enforcing the implementation of the peace agreement. The constellation of power dynamics on the ground is yet to create favorable conditions for sustained peace in the DRC. The US has once again overplayed its hand in enforcing a ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement without addressing key issues such as the presence of peacekeeping troops on the ground and concrete commitments from both warring parties and the countries which through proxy forces managed to destabilize the region. The situation remains unstable with limited possibilities for objective incorporation of the provisions from the peace agreement signed between the presidents of DRC and Rwanda on 04 Dec.