Fighting has resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the national army and the M23 rebel group, shattering a ceasefire brokered last week by Angolan President João Lourenço. The resurgence of hostilities underscores the profound fragility of diplomatic efforts to end the long-running conflict in the region.
Both the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 accuse each other of initiating the renewed clashes. The government in Kinshasa asserts the rebels are exploiting a pause in fighting to reinforce their positions ahead of ongoing talks. “The Congolese government is very respectful, since it is the one that really needs peace, while the rebels do not need peace; they need to conquer more and do nothing in the areas they occupy except loot for Rwanda,” stated Kifara Kapenda Kyk’y, mayor of Uvira, a city near the conflict zone.
The M23 categorically denies these claims. Its political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, told Africanews that government forces are responsible for the violations, citing military strikes and offensives. He linked the breakdown to a fundamental distrust of Kinshasa’s intentions: “Even our entry into Goma is because Kinshasa never wanted to respect the ceasefire… The ceasefire is being violated because it is the strategy of the Kinshasa regime to continue the war. Don’t forget, war is a business for the Kinshasa regime.”
This cycle of mutual recrimination has deepened mistrust and collapsed the latest truce attempt. The conflict in eastern DRC is complex, involving numerous armed groups and regional dimensions, with Rwanda repeatedly accused by the Congolese government of supporting M23—allegations Kigali denies.
The human cost is escalating. Civilians are bearing the brunt, with families fleeing to makeshift displacement camps. In Uvira, refugees described a perpetual cycle of broken ceasefires. “There are ceasefires every time, but no solution, and the war continues,” said Devota Mwadjuma, a displaced resident. Bernadette Shalulo pleaded for political resolution: “Help us! We ask the authorities to sit down together to find a solution, such as stopping the war, so that we can return home, continue farming, live with our children and regain our peaceful lives.”
The violence has also become more fragmented. Over the weekend, clashes erupted between Congolese-aligned Wazalendo militia and M23-backed Twirwaneho fighters, according to local civil society sources, indicating a proliferation of proxy engagements.
Diplomatic channels remain active, with Angola’s mediation process continuing at a regional level. However, the immediate reality on the ground is a return to open warfare. The collapse of this ceasefire highlights the immense challenge of securing a sustainable peace in eastern DRC, where armed competition for territory and resources is deeply entrenched. Without a credible and enforced agreement, the region faces a protracted return to large-scale fighting, further displacement, and humanitarian crisis.
