Fresh clashes have broken out in South Kivu after M23 rebels launched coordinated attacks on several government military positions, triggering a sharp escalation of violence and renewed fear among civilians in the region.
Heavy fighting was reported on Tuesday across multiple territories, including Walungu, Uvira, Kaziba, Kasika, Luvungi and parts of the Haut Plateau. Residents described intense gunfire and shelling as both sides exchanged heavy fire, forcing hundreds of families to flee deeper into rural areas or towards safer centres.
Local humanitarian workers said many civilians were caught in the middle of the clashes, with early reports indicating several casualties and children among the injured. Aid agencies warned that the number of displaced people could rise sharply if hostilities continue.
The rebel movement accused government forces and their allied groups of striking heavily populated neighbourhoods, a claim government commander has dismissed as “false and diversionary.” The army insisted that M23 fighters and their partners initiated the offensive by carrying out simultaneous assaults on strategic positions in an apparent attempt to expand their control.
The latest surge in violence comes at a sensitive moment, occurring just days before a planned formal signing ceremony of a peace framework that was expected to revive hopes for stability in the eastern region. The renewed hostilities have raised questions about the viability of ongoing peace efforts, with both sides trading blame for undermining recent ceasefire commitments.
Security analysts warn that the clashes could further destabilise South Kivu, a region already under strain from years of conflict, displacement and contested territorial control. They also caution that tensions may spill over into neighbouring areas if political and military leaders fail to restore calm.
As the situation remains fluid, humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate access to affected areas and urging all parties to refrain from targeting civilian zones. Regional observers continue to monitor whether the violence will derail the broader pursuit of a long-term political solution to the conflict.