fighting erupted in eastern Congo within hours of a peace deal ceremony in Washington, D.C., as clashes continued Friday along the Kaziba, Katogota and Rurambo axis in the South Kivu province, according to a Congolese army spokesperson. The renewed conflict underscores the fragility of efforts to resolve escalating tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
While U.S. diplomacy paused escalation of fighting in eastern Congo, it failed to resolve core issues, with neither Congo nor Rwanda fulfilling pledges made in a June agreement, analysts say. videos circulating online Friday showed dozens of displaced families fleeing on foot with their belongings and livestock near the town of Luvungi in South Kivu province; Reuters has not yet authenticated the footage.
A Congolese army spokesman said Rwandan forces were bombing,causing population displacement in luvungi. “There is population displacement in Luvungi due to Rwandan Defense Force bombardment. They are bombing blindly,” he said.
Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for AFC/M23, stated, “Numerous homes have been destroyed, and women as well as children have tragically lost their lives.” He added that forces loyal to the Congolese government “continued their relentless attacks on densely populated areas of North Kivu and south Kivu, using fighter jets, drones and heavy artillery,” without providing an overall casualty toll. AFC/M23 is not bound by the terms of any Congo-Rwanda agreement.A senior AFC/M23 official, speaking anonymously, claimed rebel forces had retaken the town of Luberika and shot down a Congolese army drone. “The war continues on the ground and has no connection with the signing of the agreement that took place yesterday in Washington,” he said.
Rwanda’s army and government spokespersons were not immediately available for comment. The conflict centers around the M23 rebel group, pictured in a recent photo watching over Congolese fighters, and is backed by Rwanda.
