Kinshasa, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | Fierce combating between the March 23 Breeze (M23) rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), alongside allied forces, has resumed within the eastern DRC, wonderful 72 hours after the signing of a peace settlement between Rwanda and DR Congo.
On Monday, clashes broke out in Munguli and Kihondo groupements, as smartly as Kikuro within the Tongo groupement, positioned in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu Province. Residents reported heavy and gentle-weight weapons fire, which forced a total bunch of civilians to flee the dwelling for security. Later that evening, Lawrence Kanyuka, political spokesperson for the M23 rebels, issued an announcement accusing FARDC troopers of bombing a civilian plane that used to be delivering humanitarian lend a hand to Minembwe in South Kivu Province.
Describing the incident as a “sinful crime, premeditated and performed with unparalleled cruelty,” Kanyuka mentioned the bombing resulted within the loss of lives and the destruction of necessary provides, along side medicines and meals meant for a population already plagued by years of struggle.
“Barely 72 hours after signing a peace settlement in Washington, the bloodthirsty Kinshasa regime has once extra committed an act of unspeakable barbarity by bombing, on Monday, June 30, 2025, a civilian plane carrying humanitarian lend a hand destined for Minembwe, in South Kivu. This sinful crime… destroyed most fundamental provides… and fuels an unparalleled humanitarian catastrophe in Minembwe,” Kanyuka mentioned.
He further accused FARDC, along side its coalition companions—the Burundi Nationwide Defense Forces (FNDB), the FDLR, and Wazalendo militias—of launching quite loads of attacks on civilians in Kanyola, Kabare, Kigogo, Kadasomwa, Nyabiondo, and surrounding areas in Lubero territory, North Kivu. “These focused acts of violence against the Banyamulenge will not proceed unpunished and must stop straight away,” he added.
FARDC has not but issued a response concerning the accusations. M23 rebels for the time being protect an eye on huge swathes of territory in North and South Kivu provinces, along side the important cities of Goma and Bukavu, Goma World Airport, and Kavumu Airport. The M23 insurgency, which reignited in 2022 beneath the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, has lengthy been a flashpoint within the placement.
The DRC executive continues to accuse Rwanda of backing the rebels—a verbalize every Rwanda and the M23 strongly snort. The neighborhood claims its rebel is aimed at combating corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination throughout the Congolese executive. On June 27, 2025, a peace deal used to be signed in Washington, D.C., between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The settlement, brokered with the enhance of U.S. President Donald Trump, objectives to end years of bloodshed and pledges mutual withdrawal of enhance for guerrilla forces.
The deal also outlines steps for the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of armed teams running in eastern DRC. While necessary parts remain scant and former peace agreements within the placement like largely failed, every the U.S. and Congolese leaders described the accord as a “generational victory.” No topic these declarations, renewed combating and fresh allegations existing the fragility of the deal and elevate concerns about its sustainability in in point of fact apt one of Africa’s most perilous struggle zones.
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