Renewed Fighting in Eastern Congo Undermines Peace Agreement

Residents of eastern Congo are facing heightened violence, despite a peace agreement signed by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington, D.C. on June 2023. The pact, which included U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance, aimed to mitigate the ongoing conflict between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda. Reports from residents indicate that fighting has escalated in recent days, particularly in the town of Kamanyola, located near the borders with Rwanda and Burundi.

Local resident Urbain Dunia described a dire situation, stating, “People are fleeing; they are leaving the neighborhoods where the bombs are falling to go to areas considered calm, and others are fleeing towards Rwanda.” Another resident, Samson Alimasi, expressed frustration at the lack of immediate benefits from the agreement, highlighting a prevailing sense of insecurity: “Yesterday, we saw that agreements were signed, but we don’t see any positive impact on this situation, and that worries us.”

The agreement, deemed “historic” by the White House, followed extensive peace negotiations involving the United States, the African Union, and Qatar. It sought to finalize a previous agreement that had been signed earlier in June. Despite this diplomatic effort, violence continues to plague the region.

In response to the renewed fighting, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Congolese Army of instigating attacks. “It’s the governing coalition that continues to bomb us,” Kanyuka stated, asserting that the regime does not respect agreements. M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa also indicated on social media that the shelling reported by residents was originating from Burundian Army positions across the border. The Associated Press was unable to independently verify this claim.

Fighting has persisted in various pockets throughout eastern Congo, with both M23 and Congolese forces accusing each other of violating ceasefire terms established earlier this year. The Congolese Army, operating in the region of South Kivu, where Kamanyola is situated, released a statement attributing the violence to M23 and condemning their alleged attacks on civilian structures, including schools.

Earlier in 2023, M23 made significant territorial gains, seizing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. The group is one of approximately 100 armed factions vying for control in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo, which has become a focal point of one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to officials, more than 7 million people have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.

The situation remains precarious as the international community watches closely. The involvement of around 4,000 troops from Rwanda in support of M23 complicates the dynamics, with the group threatening to advance towards Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, located approximately 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away.

As the fighting continues, the effectiveness of the peace agreement brokered in the U.S. remains in question, leaving many residents in eastern Congo anxious about their safety and future.