Fresh hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday led to an influx of hundreds fleeing across the border into Rwanda, following a peace agreement signed just a day prior in Washington. The deal aimed to bring stability to the resource-rich eastern region, but its immediate impact remains negligible, with violence persisting in an area that has experienced conflict for over three decades.
Combatants from the anti-government armed group M23 clashed with the Congolese army in South Kivu province, the latter receiving support from thousands of Burundian soldiers who have been deployed to the frontline. Both parties are vying for control of the strategic border town of Kamanyola, a point where the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi converge. Currently, M23 holds the town.
Eyewitness accounts from Bugarama, a border post approximately two kilometers from Kamanyola, reported blasts that resonated throughout the morning hours. An AFP journalist observed considerable unease and chaos unfolding in the area.
In an alarming development, M23 accused the Burundian military of indiscriminately firing across the border into the DRC. A Burundian military source confirmed that their forces are reinforcing their positions to prevent being overrun by M23 fighters and their Rwandan allies. Speaking anonymously, the source expressed concerns that the escalating situation could spiral into a larger conflict, emphasizing that any advances by M23 towards Uvira, a DRC city located less than 30 kilometers from Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, would be intolerable.
As the fighting intensified, numerous civilians sought refuge across the border, monitored by Rwandan police. Witness Immaculee Antoinette recounted the chaos experienced in her community, stating, “The bombs were exploding above the houses.” Despite warnings to remain indoors, she described the dire situation as nearly impossible to endure.
Local administrative official Hassan Shabani reported that “schools, hospitals, and civilian homes” in Kamanyola had sustained shelling, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. On the Rwandan side of the border, residents expressed their fears and concerns, with one local, Farizi Bizimana, noting that families were seeking shelter during moments of intense gunfire.
Earlier in January, M23, with support from Kigali, had launched an offensive that led to the capture of key regional hubs Goma in North Kivu province and Bukavu in South Kivu. The agreement signed in Washington between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, aimed at fostering peace, was characterized by U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential “miracle,” yet the ground realities suggest a continuation of violence and instability.
