US renews call for Rwandan troop withdrawal from DRC at UN

The United States renewed its call for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo during a UN Security Council briefing on the security crisis in the east of the country, while also reaffirming support for the DRC’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, according to reports.

The position fits with a broader US line on eastern Congo, including earlier US remarks at the Security Council on the DRC that condemned violence by the Rwanda-backed M23 and called for respect for agreements aimed at reducing tensions.

According to the report, Washington also stressed that the Congolese government has a responsibility to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, in areas under its control. The US framing suggests that any meaningful de-escalation will require security steps from both Kigali and Kinshasa.

The renewed message comes as eastern DRC remains a central concern for international diplomacy, despite recent efforts to stabilize relations between the two neighbours. The United Nations has also described the DRC-Rwanda peace accord signed in Washington as an important step, while warning that ongoing hostilities continue to threaten civilians in the east.

The latest Security Council discussion underscores how the conflict in eastern Congo remains tied to wider regional tensions, with foreign troop presence, armed groups and competing security claims still at the heart of diplomatic efforts.