Barely days after signing the highly publicized Washington Peace Accord, hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a “historic breakthrough,” Rwanda has demonstrated open contempt for the agreement by intensifying its military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Reports from the ground confirm that Rwandan-backed M23 forces have seized control of Uvira, a strategic town in eastern Congo, marking a shocking escalation just as the ink on the peace deal dries.
Extraordinary Timing — and a Direct Challenge to Washington
Analysts are seeing this latest incursion as a direct provocation to Washington and a test of the international community’s resolve. The Washington Peace Accord, signed in the presence of multiple African heads of state and witnessed by the U.S. government, was meant to ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congolese soil.
Instead, Kigali’s forces appear to be moving in the opposite direction, expanding their presence in violation of both the accord and UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which explicitly demands Rwanda’s disengagement from the DRC.
This is the moment when we will see whether the peace agreement signed in Washington truly aimed to end the war in eastern Congo
A Peace Deal Already Undermined
Rwanda’s renewed offensive in Uvira exposes the fragility of Trump’s peace framework and calls into question Kigali’s sincerity. While Paul Kagame was photographed smiling in Washington, his forces were reportedly mobilizing additional units in South Kivu.
The seizure of Uvira underscores a long-standing pattern: Kigali signs peace deals publicly while advancing militarily in private.
Washington’s Credibility on the Line
WASHINGTON PEACE ACCORD
Rwanda Violates Trump-Brokered Peace Deal, ICG Confirms Escalation
Dec 10, 2025
May 15, 2026
4 min read
Published
Updated:
Barely days after signing the highly publicized Washington Peace Accord, hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a “historic breakthrough,” Rwanda has demonstrated open contempt for the agreement by intensifying its military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Reports from the ground confirm that Rwandan-backed M23 forces have seized control of Uvira, a strategic town in eastern Congo, marking a shocking escalation just as the ink on the peace deal dries.
Extraordinary Timing — and a Direct Challenge to Washington
Analysts are seeing this latest incursion as a direct provocation to Washington and a test of the international community’s resolve. The Washington Peace Accord, signed in the presence of multiple African heads of state and witnessed by the U.S. government, was meant to ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congolese soil.
Instead, Kigali’s forces appear to be moving in the opposite direction, expanding their presence in violation of both the accord and UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which explicitly demands Rwanda’s disengagement from the DRC.
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This is the moment when we will see whether the peace agreement signed in Washington truly aimed to end the war in eastern Congo
A Peace Deal Already Undermined
Rwanda’s renewed offensive in Uvira exposes the fragility of Trump’s peace framework and calls into question Kigali’s sincerity. While Paul Kagame was photographed smiling in Washington, his forces were reportedly mobilizing additional units in South Kivu.
The seizure of Uvira underscores a long-standing pattern: Kigali signs peace deals publicly while advancing militarily in private.
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Washington’s Credibility on the Line
The Trump administration now faces a critical test. Just days after the Washington Peace Accord was signed under President Trump’s mediation, Rwanda has already violated the agreement by escalating its military offensive and seizing Uvira in South Kivu.
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), which includes the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and key European partners, issued a joint statement on December 9, 2025, confirming that the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda, launched a new offensive near Uvira, using attack and suicide drones in direct violation of the ceasefire.
The ICG urged the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) to withdraw immediately from eastern DRC in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2773, and called on all sides to honour their obligations under the Washington Peace Accords and the Doha Framework Agreement signed in November.
This latest escalation now puts the spotlight squarely on President Trump’s leadership and Washington’s credibility. A peace deal brokered in the White House risks being discredited in record time if Rwanda continues to act with impunity.
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“The Washington Peace Accord was supposed to mark a turning point. “If Trump’s mediation cannot stop Rwanda’s aggression, then this peace will be remembered as paper diplomacy, not real change.”
For President Félix Tshisekedi and millions of Congolese civilians, the seizure of Uvira is not just another act of war; it is a betrayal of peace signed under the eyes of the world.
The question now is whether President Trump will act on his own commitments and enforce accountability, or whether Rwanda will once again walk away unpunished, leaving eastern Congo in flames.
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