Just one day after a landmark peace agreement was inked in Washington D.C., promising stability to the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, intense fighting has erupted, forcing hundreds of civilians to flee across the border into neighboring Rwanda. This resurgence of conflict casts a shadow over the "miracle" deal brokered by US President Donald Trump between DR Congo's Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Paul Kagame.
Renewed Clashes in Strategic Border Town
The focus of the renewed clashes is Kamanyola, a strategic border town in South Kivu province, where the territories of DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi converge. Reports indicate that the M23 anti-government militia engaged in fierce battles with the Congolese army, which is backed by a significant contingent of Burundian soldiers. By Friday, the M23 group had reportedly gained control of Kamanyola.
Eyewitnesses in Bugarama, a Rwandan border post merely 2km from Kamanyola, described persistent detonations that shook buildings throughout the morning. An AFP journalist on the ground corroborated the intensity of the shelling. The M23 accused the Burundian army of continuous bombardment into the DRC, while a Burundian military source, speaking anonymously, confirmed they were bolstering their defenses. The fighting is intensifying,
the source warned, expressing concern about escalation and a real risk
to the situation. Burundi views the potential advance of M23 fighters, whom they allege are supported by Rwanda, towards Uvira – a Congolese city less than 30km from Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura – as a red line.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
The humanitarian impact is immediate and dire. Lines of civilians, including women and children, were observed crossing into Rwanda in the early hours, seeking refuge from the violence. Immaculee Antoinette, a resident of Ruhumba near Kamanyola, recounted the terror: The bombs were exploding above the houses... We were asked to remain locked inside our houses, but that seemed impossible.
Hassan Shabani, a Kamanyola official, confirmed that schools, hospitals, and homes had been shelled. On the Rwandan side, residents like Farizi Bizimana expressed deep fear, with children and women taking shelter during intense gunfire.
Peace Deal's Fragile Promise
This latest outbreak of violence underscores the persistent challenges in a region plagued by conflict for three decades. The M23, reportedly backed by Kigali and its forces, had previously launched offensives in January, seizing major regional cities like Goma and Bukavu in the Kivu provinces. The fragile peace deal, intended to stabilize this resource-rich region, has visibly failed to translate into calm on the ground, leaving hundreds displaced and regional tensions at an all-time high.