Violent clashes have erupted between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite a peace treaty established earlier this year. Security and local sources confirmed that fighting resumed on Friday around the town of Mulamba in South Kivu province, signaling a troubling escalation in hostilities.
On July 19, Kinshasa and the M23 signed a declaration of principles aimed at ensuring a permanent ceasefire. This agreement followed a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda, which was finalized in late June. However, these accords have failed to quell the violence, and reports indicate that skirmishes between the Rwanda-backed M23 and Kinshasa-aligned local militias have intensified dramatically in recent days.
Local sources revealed that the M23 forces managed to push back both Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) soldiers and local militiamen in the region, with heavy and light weaponry being utilized in the fighting. Both sides have reportedly reinforced their troops; just this Sunday, additional soldiers were deployed to the conflict zone.
Continued hostilities were reported as of Monday, with active fighting taking place around Mulamba, located approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Bukavu, the provincial capital. A resident relayed alarming observations, stating, “Both forces are using heavy weapons,” and noted that “bombs are being fired in all directions at Mulamba.”
So far, officials on both sides have not disclosed any casualty figures amidst the ongoing violence. In a statement, M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Congolese government of executing “offensive military maneuvers with a view to a large-scale conflict,” further complicating an already tense situation.
Since its resurgence in late 2021, the M23 has made significant territorial gains in the eastern DRC, capturing critical cities like Goma in January and Bukavu in February. The effects of the conflict are devastating, with over two million people reportedly displaced due to violence in the region since the beginning of the year, as noted in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released in late July.
As hostilities escalate, the international community watches with concern for the wellbeing of civilians caught in the crossfire and the potential for further destabilization in the region.
