M23 Fighters Launch Attacks Despite Washington Deal

According to the Congolese armed forces, the first assault occurred on July 12, followed by another on July 14 targeting the Kalehe region in South Kivu. On the same day, M23 fighters also attacked FARDC positions in Masisi. The violence came despite a ceasefire agreement reached on June 27 in Washington, which involved the Congolese government, M23 leadership, and Rwandan authorities.

Security sources confirmed that the recent fighting involved direct confrontations between M23 fighters and pro-government Wazalendo self-defense militias. The hostilities continued even as negotiations resumed in Doha, revealing deep mistrust and persistent instability on the ground.

Humanitarian Consequences Mount Amid Ongoing Talks

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 4,000 people fled their homes in June alone due to rising violence in Masisi and Rutshuru territories. Aid agencies have warned that continued attacks threaten to worsen the humanitarian crisis in a region already plagued by years of armed conflict and displacement.

Despite the political momentum generated by the Washington agreement, the actions of M23 fighters on the ground suggest a divergence between diplomatic progress and field realities. UN officials have previously accused Rwanda of directing M23 military operations, a charge Kigali denies but which continues to fuel regional tensions.