Fighting Resumes Between DRC and M23 Rebels Despite Ceasefire

Fighting has broken out between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), despite agreeing to a ceasefire last month, Le Monde reported.  

The DRC and the M23 rebels, which have been clashing since Friday near the town of Mulamba in the South Kivu province, signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on July 19 and a permanent ceasefire following a US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda in late June. 

M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka accused the DRC on Monday of “offensive military maneuvers with a view to a large-scale conflict.”   

On Tuesday, the DRC army said daily attacks by M23 were taking place and that it “reserved the right to respond,” added France 24. 

According to the declaration of principles, the DRC and the M23 rebels committed to a ban on aerial, ground, maritime, and lake-based attacks, as well as acts of sabotage, hate propaganda, and any attempt to gain new ground by force. 

The deal also held a provision to restore DRC authority across the eastern part of the country held by the M23 rebels.  

M23 has gained significant territory in resource-rich eastern DRC after it invaded the region earlier this year, also taking the regional centers of Goma and Bukavu.  

The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.