A rebel coalition in eastern DR Congo has accused the Kinshasa government of escalating military operations in densely populated areas, days after a U.S.-brokered peace agreement was signed in Washington between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
In a statement issued Saturday, the Congo River Coalition, which includes the M23 rebel group, claimed that Congolese forces, backed by the Burundian National Defence Force, deployed heavy weaponry in civilian zones, warning that the mobilization “risks triggering a humanitarian catastrophe.”
Coalition spokesperson Laurence Kanyuka described the moves as a “provocative and reckless military build-up” that runs counter to ongoing Qatari-mediated talks in Doha. “Such actions not only violate the spirit of the Washington agreement, but also demonstrate a blatant disregard for the civilian population,” the statement read.
Signed on June 27, the Washington peace deal committed both Congo and Rwanda to halting support for armed groups, respecting territorial integrity, and establishing a joint mechanism to dismantle the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). It also outlined steps for dialogue between Kinshasa and M23, alongside humanitarian and economic stabilization measures for the troubled eastern provinces.
But the rebel coalition now questions Kinshasa’s political will to uphold the agreement. “While we remain committed to a political solution, the government continues to stall on confidence-building measures,” the group stated, accusing the authorities of “dangerous double standards.”
The coalition said it reserves the right to “defend civilians and its positions” if attacks continue, branding the current military campaign as “criminal aggression.”
Tensions further escalated this week following Congolese reports of an unidentified aircraft entering the country’s airspace. The incident has reignited concerns about the fragile nature of the truce and the challenges facing regional actors attempting to de-escalate one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
