DRC Accuses Rwanda of Violating Peace Deal as M23 Rebels Advance in the East

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has accused the neighbouring state of Rwanda of breaching a fresh US-brokered peace agreement, amid a renewed offensive by the rebel group M23 in eastern DRC.

The allegations come shortly after leaders from both countries signed the accord. The DRC’s president claimed that Rwandan forces carried out or supported heavy-weapons attacks on the very day after the peace deal was signed.

Since the accord’s signing, M23 has made swift territorial gains, seizing villages and advancing toward strategic border regions.

Reports indicate that the rebel advance has triggered intense fighting, bombings and shelling, particularly in South Kivu province. The violence has inflicted serious harm on civilians: entire villages have been shelled, homes destroyed, and non-combatants caught in crossfire.

As a result of escalating hostilities, a massive humanitarian displacement has occurred. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, some crossing into neighbouring countries in search of safety.

The number of displaced persons continues to rise as clashes spread, deepening an already acute humanitarian crisis in a region rich in minerals but wracked by decades of conflict.

Human-rights organisations and observers have criticised the peace deal for failing to address accountability.

They note the absence of concrete provisions to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed in contested areas such as unlawful killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and forced recruitment. This omission, they argue, undermines the prospect of lasting stability.

Despite diplomatic efforts and repeated ceasefire attempts, the persistence of fighting underscores the fragility of peace initiatives where armed groups remain active and foreign support continues.

The situation in eastern DRC remains volatile, with the risk of further escalation posing a threat to both regional stability and the lives of countless civilians.

Source: Al Jazeera; Reuters; Africanews; Amnesty International; Reuters special reports