New clashes in eastern Congo put at risk 'historic' peace agreement mediated by Trump

GOMA, Congo Despite a recently signed peace agreement, residents in eastern Congo report that violence has surged. The accord, signed in Washington, D.C., involved Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to halt hostilities between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel faction.

The signing took place on Thursday, but by Friday, clashes had intensified, especially in Kamanyola, a town near the borders with Rwanda and Burundi. Locals describe mass displacements as civilians flee areas under bombardment.

"People are escaping to places considered safe, while some cross into Rwanda," said Urbain Dunia, a Kamanyola resident. Samson Alimasi, another local, expressed frustration: "Agreements were signed yesterday, yet the situation remains dangerous. Bombs continue to fall, and we cannot tell from which side."

The White House hailed the deal as "historic." It followed months of diplomatic efforts led by the U.S., alongside partners such as the African Union and Qatar, and formalized a June agreement. However, the M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Congolese army of ongoing attacks. "The governing forces continue to bomb us. They do not honor agreements, and what happened in Washington does not affect us," he said. M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa claimed the reported shelling originated from Burundian positions, a statement the Associated Press could not independently verify.

Throughout eastern Congo, skirmishes persist as both M23 and Congolese troops accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. The Congolese army in South Kivu, where Kamanyola is located, released a statement blaming M23 and condemning attacks on schools.

Earlier this year, M23 captured key cities Goma and Bukavu, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The group is among roughly 100 armed factions competing for control in mineral-rich eastern Congo, a crisis that has displaced over 7 million people. United Nations experts estimate that approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops support the rebels, who have at times threatened to advance toward Congo's capital, Kinshasa, around 1,600 kilometers to the west.

Author: Logan Reeves