Clashes have resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo between the national army and the paramilitary AFC-M23, undermining a ceasefire proposed last week by Angola’s President João Lourenço. Both sides accuse each other of violating the truce. Authorities in Kinshasa say the rebels are using talks to consolidate territorial gains, while local officials in the southeastern city of Uvira claim M23 seeks expansion rather than peace. The rebels reject the allegations, insisting government forces launched air strikes and ground offensives against their positions. M23 leaders argue that previous ceasefires collapsed due to continued military pressure from Kinshasa, citing renewed fighting around key locations, including approaches to Goma, the region’s main urban hub.
The renewed violence has deepened mistrust and weakened the already fragile truce. Civilians are again bearing the brunt: families have fled to makeshift camps around Uvira, reporting fresh clashes in nearby areas such as Lemera. Displaced residents say repeated ceasefires have failed to deliver lasting security, leaving them unable to return home or resume farming. Over the weekend, civil society groups reported fighting involving Congolese-aligned Wazalendo militias and M23-backed Twirwaneho fighters, adding another layer to the complex conflict. While regional diplomacy continues, including mediation led by Angola, the situation on the ground in eastern DR Congo remains volatile, with peace efforts struggling to translate into sustained calm.
