Fighting has resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the national army and the AFC-M23 rebel coalition, despite a ceasefire proposed last week by Angolan President João Lourenço.
Both sides are accusing each other of violating the truce, deepening tensions in a region long plagued by instability.
Authorities in Kinshasa say the rebels are exploiting the ceasefire to consolidate territorial gains while continuing diplomatic engagements. Kifara Kapenda Kyk’y, mayor of Uvira, said the government remains committed to peace but alleged that the rebels are focused on expansion.
“The Congolese government truly needs peace,” he said, accusing the insurgents of seeking to capture more territory rather than stabilise the areas under their control.
The M23, however, firmly rejected the accusations. The group claims government forces initiated fresh hostilities through airstrikes and ground offensives targeting their positions.
“Even our entry into Goma is because Kinshasa never wanted to respect the ceasefire,” M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa told Africanews. He accused the government of deliberately undermining the truce, alleging that war benefits political elites in the capital.
The conflicting narratives have heightened mistrust and weakened the fragile ceasefire effort.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
As clashes intensify, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. In Uvira, displaced families have sought shelter in makeshift camps, uncertain about when they can safely return home.
“There are ceasefires every time, but no solution, and the war continues,” said Devota Mwadjuma, who fled her home after renewed fighting in Lemera.
Another displaced resident, Bernadette Shalulo, appealed to authorities to prioritise peace. “Help us. Let them sit down and find a solution so we can go back home, farm our land and live peacefully with our children,” she said.
Over the weekend, pro-government Wazalendo militias reportedly clashed with M23-linked Twirwaneho fighters, according to local civil society groups.
Although diplomatic initiatives remain underway, the renewed fighting underscores the fragility of peace efforts in eastern DRC, where cycles of violence continue to disrupt civilian life.
