Trump's 'historic' peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city

The US ambassador to the UN has accused Rwanda of leading Africa's Great Lakes region toward war, just over a week after a peace deal was signed in Washington to end the decades-long conflict.

US President Donald Trump Trump hailed the deal between DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame as "historic" and "a great day for Africa, great day for the world". B

ut the M23 rebel group says it has "fully liberated" the key city of Uvira in an offensive the US and European powers say is backed by Rwanda. U

N experts have previously accused it of having "de facto control" of the rebel force's operations. R

wanda denies the allegations, however, its presence in Washington was a tacit acknowledgment of its influence over the M23. T

he rebels were not signatories to Trump's deal - and have been taking part in a parallel peace process led by Qatar, a US ally. T

he latest fighting risks further escalating an already deeply complex conflict. P

rof Jason Stearns, a Canada-based political scientist who specialises in the region, told the BBC that the view in M23 circles was that "they need more leverage in the negotiations", while the feeling in the Rwandan government is that Tshisekedi cannot be trusted. H

e added that the assault on Uvira, in South Kivu province, "flies in the face of all the negotiations that are under way". "

It appears to humiliate the US government. I