Intense clashes broke out on Sunday in Mulamba, Walungu territory, South Kivu, between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and allied Wazalendo militia against M23 rebels, casting serious doubt over the viability of two recent high-profile peace agreements.
According to local sources, heavy weapons fire echoed through the area for hours, forcing residents to flee toward Burhale and Mubone.
Aid workers warn the renewed hostilities risk worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, where hundreds of thousands have been displaced by conflict since 2021.
The latest violence comes just weeks after Kinshasa and Kigali signed the Washington Accord on June 27, under U.S. mediation, committing to a Rwandan troop withdrawal from eastern Congo, halting support for armed groups, and establishing a joint security coordination mechanism.
The DRC has long accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion — allegations Rwanda denies.
On July 19, Kinshasa and the M23 signed the Doha Declaration of Principles in Qatar, agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, confidence-building measures, and a roadmap toward comprehensive peace talks by mid-August.
However, disputes over participation in those talks, alongside a fragile trust between the parties, have raised doubts about the process.
