Fresh Fighting Erupts in East DR Congo, Threatening Fragile Peace Deal
Goma, DR Congo – Intense clashes have erupted between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces, backed by coalition troops, across multiple fronts in South Kivu province, marking a severe escalation less than a month after a major peace agreement was signed.
The fighting, reported in the areas of Katogota-Luvungi, Kaziba-Haut Plateau, Tchivanga-Hombo, and Kasika-Mwenga, has triggered fresh displacement as civilians flee the violence. The resurgence of combat casts immediate doubt on the durability of the November 8 peace framework brokered in Doha.
M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa confirmed the battles on Thursday. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, accused the Congolese army of launching attacks in populated areas, warning of a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
“Government forces have intensified attacks on our positions in heavily populated areas, deliberately endangering civilian lives and threatening to create a larger humanitarian catastrophe,” Kanyuka stated.
The Congolese military has not yet issued a detailed statement on the latest clashes. The government forces are operating alongside troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission and other allied groups.
This renewed violence undermines the Doha framework, which was intended to de-escalate the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo. The agreement outlined a ceasefire and a phased withdrawal of the M23 from occupied territories, processes that now appear stalled.
The M23, which resumed its armed campaign in late 2021, continues to hold significant territory across North and South Kivu. The group maintains control over key urban centers, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, as well as critical infrastructure such as Goma and Kavumu airports.
Aid agencies operating in the region have repeatedly raised alarms over one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with nearly 7 million people internally displaced within the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latest fighting is expected to push these numbers higher and further strain limited resources.
International observers are urging restraint and a return to dialogue. The United States, the European Union, and regional bodies have called for all parties to adhere to their commitments under the Doha agreement, warning that continued military action risks a broader regional confrontation.
As clouds of smoke rise again over the hills of South Kivu, the latest clashes serve as a stark reminder that the path to peace in eastern Congo remains fraught and fragile.
About The Author
