Heavy clashes have rocked Kamanyola in South Kivu just hours before Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are expected to ratify a landmark peace agreement in Washington, D.C. The timing underscores the fragility of the security situation on the ground and the urgency surrounding today’s high-level diplomatic effort.
According to reports received by Radio Okapi on Thursday morning, the situation in Kamanyola (Walungu territory) on National Route 5 remains extremely tense, 48 hours after violent fighting erupted between the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and AFC-M23 rebels. The strategic town sits along the Bukavu–Uvira axis, a key corridor for military and civilian movement.
Information from local sources remains contradictory. Some reports suggest that control of Kamanyola is divided between FARDC positions and M23 rebels, while others indicate that the FARDC–Wazalendo coalition, backed by units of the Burundian army, has reclaimed full control.
What all sources agree on, however, is that heavy artillery fire continues to echo from the surrounding hills, signaling ongoing confrontations.
Humanitarian Toll Mounts
Local civil society groups report at least seven civilians killed and six injured in the past two days, with the wounded receiving treatment in nearby health centers.
The fighting has triggered a mass exodus as terrified residents flee toward Bugarama in Rwanda, while others remain trapped inside their homes, too afraid to move.
Public life has ground to a halt:
Local leaders warn that the escalating violence reflects the persistent volatility in South Kivu and the ongoing suffering of civilians caught between armed groups.
The renewed clashes come at a symbolic moment, as Tshisekedi and Kagame are set to sign the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity later today. The agreement includes commitments to cease hostilities, disarm non-state armed groups, respect territorial integrity, and build a framework for long-term regional cooperation.
Yet the violence in Kamanyola highlights the scale of the challenge ahead, with rebel activity still active across parts of eastern Congo and regional tensions far from resolved.
As the two leaders prepare to formalize the peace deal in Washington, the situation on the ground offers a sobering reminder of why the accord is urgently needed—and why its implementation will be critical for lasting stability in the eastern DRC.
