Fighting resumes after peace deal as civilians flee Kamanyola border town

Fighting flares again in eastern DR Congo just a day after a Washington-brokered peace deal was signed, with fighters from the M23 militia clashing with the Congolese army near Kamanyola, the border town where DRC, Rwanda and Burundi meet. The renewed clashes have intensified concerns that a fragile truce may unravel as both sides push to control strategic river routes and road links in South Kivu.

Civilians are streaming across the border into Rwanda, with early morning detonations shaking homes and prompting families to shelter wherever they can. Administrative officials in Kamanyola report that schools, hospitals and civilian homes have been hit by shelling as the front lines shift along the frontier. On the Rwandan side, residents describe hearing continuous bursts of gunfire and the sight of smoke rising over the hills that overlook the town.

Burundian forces have been deployed to bolster positions along the frontier, reinforcing lines to prevent what authorities call a potential overrun by M23 and its regional backers. The area remains highly volatile, with a real risk that the conflict could spill over toward Uvira, a nearby city less than 30 kilometers away.

Observers say the Washington accord, intended to stabilise the resource-rich east, has yet to produce noticeable changes on the ground. Aid groups warn that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the fighting, and the situation could deteriorate if fighting intensifies or if new frontlines emerge. Residents on both sides of the border express a mix of frustration and cautious hope that a durable peace might still be possible, even as violence resumes in Kamanyola and its surroundings.

Cover image source: Trump Trumpets Peace in Africa Amid War on Drug Boats, in Day of Dissonance 🔗

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