The United States has accused Rwanda of breaching a peace agreement signed with President Donald Trump and warned that it would take action in response.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Rwanda’s activities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) constituted a “clear violation” of the Washington Accords, following renewed advances by Rwandan-backed armed groups in the region.
“Rwanda’s actions in eastern DRC are a clear violation of the Washington Accords signed by President Trump, and the United States will take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept,” Rubio wrote on X.
The warning comes amid escalating violence in eastern DRC, where the capture of Uvira, a key town near the Burundi border, has heightened fears of the conflict spreading into a wider regional war.
The latest development is part of an offensive launched earlier this month in South Kivu province, following the seizure of Goma and Bukavu, two major cities in the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
President Trump has repeatedly cited the DRC peace agreement as one of several conflicts he helped resolve since returning to office.
On Friday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz accused Rwanda of fueling regional instability, alleging that Rwandan defence forces were actively supporting the M23 rebel group.
“The Rwandan defence forces have provided material, logistics and training support to M23 and have fought alongside them in DRC with between 5,000 and 7,000 troops,” Waltz told the UN Security Council, adding that the support included surface-to-air missiles, drones and artillery.
Since resuming hostilities in 2021, the M23 has captured large areas of eastern DRC, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this month, United Nations experts accused Rwanda’s army and the M23 of carrying out summary executions and forced mass displacements in affected areas.
The Rwandan government has repeatedly denied backing the M23 and has accused neighbouring countries of undermining regional stability.