More than 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Congo in recent days due to intense fighting, the United Nations reported. This Congo-Rwanda conflict escalation comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Washington to celebrate a new peace pact.
According to a U.N. statement issued Monday night, at least 74 people—mostly civilians—have died in the surge of violence. Another 83 wounded civilians have been hospitalized.
Local officials and residents say Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are advancing toward Uvira, a strategic lakeside town on Congo’s border with Burundi. The rebels have clashed with Congolese troops and local militia groups known as Wazalendo in villages north of Uvira.
The timing is striking. On Thursday, Trump stood with Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda to sign a U.S.- and Qatari-brokered agreement. He declared the deal would end a 30-year conflict that has killed millions. “Today we’re succeeding where so many others have failed,” Trump said.
Yet by Monday, Reuters reported that M23 had captured Luvungi—the front line since February—and was fighting near Sange and Kiliba, towns along the road to Uvira. M23 claimed it seized Sange, though Congolese army officials did not confirm this. Residents said they fled ahead of the rebels’ arrival.
Rwanda continues to deny supporting M23. However, both the U.S. State Department and the United Nations say clear evidence links Rwanda to the rebel group. Even before this latest flare-up, the conflict had already displaced over 1.2 million people.
On Monday, the U.S. State Department expressed deep concern. “Rwanda, which continues to provide support to M23, must prevent further escalation,” a spokesperson said.
Congolese President Tshisekedi directly accused Rwanda of violating its Washington commitments during a speech to lawmakers. He called the renewed offensive a betrayal of the peace deal.
A senior Trump administration official acknowledged the violence but stressed ongoing diplomacy. “The president has made clear to both sides that implementation is what he will judge,” the official said. “As he stated, he is expecting immediate results.”
Despite the high-profile ceremony, the Congo-Rwanda conflict escalation shows how fragile peace remains in the region. With civilians bearing the brunt and trust between the two nations unraveling, the international community now faces renewed pressure to enforce accountability—not just broker photo-op agreements.
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