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The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have entered a new cycle of mutual recrimination, each accusing the other of violating an Angolan-mediated ceasefire intended to bring a much-needed reprieve to the nation’s eastern provinces.
While the truce was proposed to begin last Wednesday, Friday saw a sharp return to hostilities in the highlands of South Kivu.
The Congolese military claimed M23 forces attacked its positions, “torpedoing” the fragile peace process, while the rebel group countered with its own allegations of “ceasefire violations” by Kinshasa’s forces.
The collapse of this latest lull underscores the deep-seated mistrust and complex proxy dynamics that have defined the region’s 30-year history of violence.
Since the M23’s resurgence in 2021, the group has seized significant territory—including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025—frequently displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Despite the ongoing Angolan-led mediation, both sides remain entrenched: the M23 has criticised Kinshasa for “manipulation” and a lack of clear commitment to start dates, while the DRC government continues to battle a coalition of M23-affiliated militias in key areas like Minembwe.
The recurring failure of truces—at least half a dozen since 2021—has left humanitarian organisations and the international community increasingly sceptical of diplomatic breakthroughs.
While the United Nations has recently moved to deploy peacekeepers to monitor ceasefire lines and reopened air access to Goma, the ground reality remains volatile.
With both sides using local militias as proxy forces and accusations of external support from Rwanda and Burundi fuelling the fire, the prospects for a lasting end to the conflict remain as precarious as the temporary calm that briefly held earlier this week.
