Rebel fighters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) will leave the key city of Uvira following a request from the United States. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), said this will be a “trust-building measure” to support ongoing peace talks. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the rebel capture of Uvira as a breach of peace agreements and warned of action to uphold promises made to former President Donald Trump. Uvira is a strategic city near Burundi’s economic capital, Bujumbura. Its fall to the rebels, led by the M23 group, is a major setback for DR Congo's army and their Burundian allies. The rebels, accused by the US and Europe of being backed by Rwanda, agreed to the withdrawal amid a peace process led by Qatar — a strong US ally with close ties to Rwanda. Nangaa stated the withdrawal will help the Qatar-brokered talks have the “maximum chance to succeed.” He also called for a neutral force to monitor the ceasefire and prevent DR Congo's army from regaining lost areas. So far, Nangaa did not specify when the rebels will exit Uvira. The fighting has caused about 200,000 people to flee their homes, with at least 74 civilians killed and many wounded, according to the UN. Eastern DR Congo has suffered violent conflict for over 30 years despite numerous peace efforts. The Trump administration hopes the new peace process will stabilize the region and open doors for US investment in DR Congo’s vast mineral reserves, estimated at $25 trillion. These minerals, including cobalt and lithium, are crucial for electronics and electric vehicles. Earlier, the rebels captured the cities of Goma and Bukavu. The offensive on Uvira began just days before Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and DR Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi signed a peace deal in Washington on 4 December, hailed by Trump as "historic". However, the rebels were not part of that agreement. Conflicts in DR Congo continue to draw international attention as efforts to restore peace remain fragile and complex.