Fighting flared in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, less than a day after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington, where they reaffirmed commitments to a U.S.-brokered peace deal reached in June aimed at stabilising the mineral-rich region and encouraging Western mining investment.
“We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” Trump said. Despite the ceremony, violence continued on the ground, with both sides trading accusations.
The Rwandan-backed AFC/M23 rebel group, which earlier this year seized the two largest cities in eastern Congo and is not bound by the Washington agreement, claimed government-aligned forces were carrying out widespread attacks.
M23 said bombs fired from Burundi for more than three days struck villages in North and South Kivu, killing women and children, wounding civilians, and destroying homes, schools and health centres, alleging that Burundi coordinated airstrikes using drones and artillery.
Burundi officials were not immediately available for comment, Reuters reported.
Congo’s army said it was not targeting civilians but confirmed clashes were ongoing and accused Rwandan forces of conducting strikes.
The military reported neutralising an enemy drone that crossed into Congolese airspace from Bugarama in Rwanda and said M23 fighters were repeatedly violating the ceasefire.
M23 reported 23 people killed and several wounded, while a Congolese army spokesperson said 11 civilians had died in the fighting.
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“Mumerous homes have been destroyed, and women as well as children have tragically lost their lives,” wrote AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, adding that government-aligned forces were attacking densely populated areas “using fighter jets, drones and heavy artillery.”
Congo confirmed clashes along the Kaziba-Katogota-Rurambo axis in South Kivu, with army spokesperson Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji saying troops targeted only fighters in surrounding hills but warning, “There is population displacement in Luvungi due to Rwandan Defence Force bombardment.
They are bombing blindly.” Rwanda was not immediately available for comment.
A senior M23 official said the rebels had retaken the town of Luberika and shot down a Congolese army drone, adding that the war was continuing regardless of the Washington agreement.
Analysts said U.S. diplomacy had slowed escalation but did not resolve underlying issues, with both Congo and Rwanda falling short of June commitments.
Videos circulating online showed families fleeing near Luvungi with belongings and livestock, though Reuters could not verify them.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said intense fighting since December 2 has caused civilian deaths, injuries and displacement, while roadblocks have blocked evacuations and access to medical care, according to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
UNICEF said clashes on December 3 and 4 in South Kivu struck three schools and another nearby site, reportedly killing at least seven children.
“In 2025, fighting has intensified to levels not seen in years, and children, as always, are bearing the brunt,” the agency said, urging an end to attacks on education facilities.
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Image Credit: Game Reactor
