M23 Militia Seizes Key Congo Town, Defying U.S. Peace Deal

The M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda, seized control of most of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late Wednesday. The capture of this key town is a major military advance. The move comes just after the signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington. Burundi called the offensive a "middle finger" to the United States. The United Nations has maintained a peacekeeping mission in the region for decades. It began after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. However, the mission has been unable to stabilize the eastern Congo. The ongoing conflict involves numerous armed groups competing for control and resources.