Fighting has resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) as the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels launched fresh attacks on government forces in South Kivu province. The resurgence in violence on Tuesday morning shattered a brief two-day lull following a summit of East and Southern African leaders that had called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
The conflict, which has claimed approximately 2,900 lives since early January, continues to displace thousands. The United Nations estimates that at least 700,000 people have been forced from their homes, with many more injured.
The M23 rebels, who have seized vast territories in eastern DR Congo, including the strategic city of Goma, are now advancing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Reports indicate that fighting erupted near Ihusi, a town located about 70 kilometers from Bukavu and 40 kilometers from South Kivu’s airport. Security sources confirmed to AFP that heavy shelling had begun early Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a coalition of rebel groups that includes the M23, suggested that the battle could soon reach Bukavu. Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson, warned that if alleged crimes by government forces against civilians continued, the AFC would “take full responsibility to eradicate the threat at its source and protect our people.”
As the violence escalates, reports have emerged that M23 rebels are forcing displaced civilians to return to their homes despite ongoing hostilities. While the M23 has denied these allegations, French broadcaster RFI reported that several large camps for displaced persons have been dismantled. Thousands of refugees, many of whom had fled to Goma, were reportedly given 72 hours to return to their villages, some of which remain conflict zones.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, confirmed that M23 had issued the deadline, but the rebels dismissed these claims as “propaganda.” Kanyuka insisted that displaced individuals were returning voluntarily and that the group did not compel anyone without “firm security guarantees.”
The M23, largely composed of ethnic Tutsis, claims to be fighting for the rights of the minority community in eastern DR Congo. However, Kinshasa accuses the group of seeking control over the region’s vast mineral wealth. The DR Congo government and the UN have long alleged that Rwanda’s government is backing the rebels—an accusation that Kigali has consistently denied.
As the conflict intensifies near its borders, Rwanda has shifted its stance, warning that the fighting poses a security threat to the region. With peace efforts failing and fighting escalating, the humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo continues to deepen.
