Fighting erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday, less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington to sign agreements aimed at ending decades of conflict in the mineral-rich region.
The deals, hailed by Trump as a major diplomatic achievement, were intended to stabilise eastern Congo, promote disarmament of rebel groups, and open the door to increased Western mining investment. “We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” Trump said during the ceremony, framing the accords as a cornerstone of his administration’s efforts to position the United States as both a global peacemaker and a facilitator of international business interests.
However, the reality on the ground sharply contrasted with the celebratory tone in Washington. By Friday morning, clashes had already broken out in multiple locations across South Kivu and North Kivu provinces. Warring factions traded blame, underscoring the fragility of the peace deal.
The AFC/M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda and seized control of the two largest cities in eastern Congo earlier this year, is not bound by the Washington agreement. In a statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused Congolese government forces of conducting indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas. “Numerous homes have been destroyed, and women and children have tragically lost their lives,” Kanyuka wrote on social media platform X, citing heavy bombardments, drone strikes, and artillery fire without providing a total casualty figure.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Congolese army confirmed ongoing clashes along the Kaziba, Katogota, and Rurambo axis in South Kivu province, noting that civilians were fleeing in large numbers. “There is population displacement in Luvungi due to Rwandan Defence Force bombardment. They are bombing blindly,” the official said. Video footage circulating online shows dozens of families carrying belongings and livestock on foot, escaping the violence, though Reuters has not independently verified the recordings.
An unnamed senior AFC/M23 official also claimed that rebel forces had retaken the town of Luberika and shot down a Congolese army drone, highlighting the continued volatility in the region. “The war continues on the ground and has no connection with the signing of the agreement that took place yesterday in Washington,” he said.
Analysts caution that while U.S. diplomacy temporarily paused escalation earlier this year, the Washington accords failed to address the root causes of the conflict, including disputes over land, governance, and mineral wealth, as well as the complex relationships between the Congolese government, Rwanda, and armed groups. Neither Congo nor Rwanda has fully implemented commitments made in the June agreement that laid the groundwork for Thursday’s signing.
The eastern DRC has long been plagued by armed groups, intercommunal violence, and foreign-backed militias, fueled in part by the region’s abundant deposits of cobalt, coltan, and gold. The humanitarian consequences are severe: hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and civilians face repeated threats of violence, famine, and disease.
International human rights groups have expressed concern that agreements signed in foreign capitals, while politically symbolic, may have little impact without immediate, enforceable measures on the ground. “Signing deals in Washington is one thing; securing peace in villages where families are being bombed is another,” said a senior analyst from the International Crisis Group.
The events underscore the persistent gap between high-level diplomacy and local realities. Even as leaders tout agreements to the global media, the conflict in eastern Congo continues to devastate communities, with no clear end in sight.
As of Friday evening, Rwanda’s government and military had not responded to requests for comment on the reported clashes or the rebel takeover of Luberika. Meanwhile, international observers and humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent monitoring and intervention to prevent further civilian casualties.
Source:Africa Publicity
