Renewed Fighting Erupts in Eastern DR Congo Following Peace Deal
Fresh clashes between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army, supported by Burundian troops, have erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), just a day after a peace agreement was signed in Washington D.C. The renewed violence, centered around the border town of Kamanyola in South Kivu province, highlights the persistent instability in the mineral-rich region that has been plagued by conflict for three decades. M23 fighters are now reported to be in control of Kamanyola.
The sound of explosions echoed throughout Friday morning near Kamanyola, according to an AFP journalist in Bugarama, a Rwandan border post approximately 2 kilometers away. The M23 accused the Burundian army of “firing without interruption” into the DRC. A Burundian military source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the escalation, stating that their forces were reinforcing positions to prevent being overrun by M23 and their Rwandan backers. The source emphasized that allowing M23 to reach Uvira, a Congolese city less than 30 kilometers from Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura, represented a “red line” for Burundi, indicating a significant risk of wider regional conflict.
The recent intensification of fighting has led to a new wave of displacement, with civilians fleeing across the border into Rwanda in the early hours of Friday. Witnesses described bombs exploding over houses in areas near Kamanyola. Immaculee Antoinette, a resident of Ruhumba, near Kamanyola, recounted being told to remain indoors, which she described as impossible amidst the shelling. Hassan Shabani, an administrative official in Kamanyola, reported that schools, hospitals, and civilian homes were all impacted by the shelling. On the Rwandan side, residents expressed fear, with some “scouring the hills from where the shots are coming,” according to local woman Farizi Bizimana, as children and women sought refuge indoors during intense gunfire.
Rwanda’s Alleged Role and Previous M23 Advances
The DRC, alongside the United States and other international bodies, has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, an assertion Kigali consistently denies. United Nations experts have reported that the Rwandan army maintains “de facto control” over M23 operations, with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan government troops operating alongside M23 in eastern DRC as of July 2024. These reports detail how M23 recruits are allegedly trained under Rwandan supervision and supported by advanced Rwandan weaponry [bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgyzl1mlkvo).
The M23’s current offensive follows significant territorial gains earlier this year. In January, the group, reportedly backed by Kigali and its army, captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. This was followed by the capture of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, in February (theguardian.com). The group also seized the airport in Bukavu in February, signaling a rapid advance southward. Observers note that the scale of M23’s current control surpasses its previous peak in 2012, raising concerns about the difficulty of repelling the rebels this time around, especially given perceived global distractions and a reluctance by world powers to confront Rwanda directly, according to analysts like Jason Stearns of Simon Fraser University [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rwanda-backed-m23s-deja-vu-rise-congo-harder-stop-this-time-2025-01-28/).
Diplomatic Efforts and Humanitarian Crisis
The recent Washington D.C. agreement, hailed as a “miracle” by US President Donald Trump, involved DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. However, its immediate impact on the ground has been negligible. This latest diplomatic attempt comes amidst a long history of failed ceasefires and truces in the region, with the M23 unilaterally declaring and then breaking a ceasefire earlier in February, leading to the renewed offensive towards Bukavu [rfi.fr](https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20250205-m23-rwanda-troops-launch-fresh-east-dr-congo-offensive).
The conflict has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, which has more than 6 million displaced people, one of the highest figures globally. North and South Kivu alone account for over 4.6 million internally displaced individuals. This year, an additional 400,000 people have been displaced due to the escalating conflict. Reports of executions, sexual violence, and other atrocities have been frequent during the recent fighting. In February, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUSCO) reported a significantly increased death toll from the battle for Goma, with thousands of bodies collected and hundreds remaining in morgues, indicating the devastating human cost of the ongoing violence [rfi.fr](https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20250205-m23-rwanda-troops-launch-fresh-east-dr-congo-offensive).
The M23, which claims to protect the interests of the Congolese Tutsi population, has also significantly expanded its control over lucrative mineral resources, including coltan, gold, and tin ore mines. UN experts estimate that the group collects at least $800,000 monthly from taxing coltan in Rubaya, a key mining town captured last year, and ensures a consistent flow of minerals to Rwanda. This control over resources provides both a means of sustaining their insurgency and a motivation for holding territory, further complicating efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
