Congo Conflict Ignites Hours After Trump Peace Deal Ceremony
Fighting erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, a day after US President Donald Trump hosted Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington to sign deals aimed at ending the long‑running conflict.
Trump declared, “We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” as the United States sought to stabilise a mineral‑rich region and lure Western mining investment.
Despite the high‑profile signing, fierce clashes continued on the ground, with both the Rwandan‑backed AFC/M23 rebels and Congolese government forces blaming each other for the renewed violence.
The M23 group accused Burundi of firing bombs for more than three days into villages across North and South Kivu, saying the strikes killed women and children, wounded civilians and razed homes, schools and health centres.
A spokesperson for Burundi could not be immediately reached for comment.
Congo’s army insisted it was not targeting civilians, noting that it had neutralised an enemy drone that entered Congolese airspace from Bugarama in Rwanda and accusing M23 fighters of repeatedly violating the ceasefire.
The rebels reported twenty‑three deaths and several injuries, while a Congolese army spokesperson confirmed eleven civilian fatalities in the latest round of fighting.
Analysts note that US diplomacy has temporarily paused an escalation but has not resolved the core disputes, with neither Kinshasa nor Kigali fully implementing the June commitments.
Video footage shared online shows dozens of displaced families fleeing on foot with belongings and livestock near the town of Luvungi, though Reuters was unable to authenticate the clips.
“Numerous homes have been destroyed, and women as well as children have tragically lost their lives,” Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for AFC/M23, wrote on X.
Congolese army spokesperson Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji said forces have limited their strikes to rebel fighters positioned on the hills above Kaziba and Rurambo, insisting civilians were not the target.
He added, “There is population displacement in Luvungi due to Rwandan Defence Force bombardment. They are bombing blindly.”
Rwanda’s army and government could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
A senior AFC/M23 official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said rebel forces had retaken the town of Luberika and shot down a Congolese army drone, insisting the war continues irrespective of the Washington agreement.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that intense fighting since 2 December has caused civilian deaths, injuries and massive displacement, hampering humanitarian access.
UNICEF warned that clashes on 3 and 4 December hit three schools and a nearby site in South Kivu, killing at least seven children and injuring others, and called for an immediate halt to attacks on education facilities.
Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is monitoring the situation closely, given the DRC’s role as a major supplier of cobalt and copper—metals vital to Ghana’s growing electric‑vehicle and renewable‑energy sectors. Ghanaian mining firms have expressed concern that continued instability could jeopardise future joint‑venture opportunities.
The United Nations and regional bodies have urged both governments to honour the Washington commitments and allow unhindered humanitarian aid, while observers say the next week will be crucial for any real de‑escalation.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
