DR Congo Clashes Leave Over Seventy Dead, UN Reports
Intense confrontations between Congolese forces and M23 rebels from Dec. 2-7 involved heavy artillery and bombardment in densely populated zones, impacting the territories of Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi, and Kalehe throughout South Kivu province.
Fresh figures reveal the violence has displaced over 200,000 individuals since Dec. 2, with thousands more fleeing across borders into Burundi and Rwanda.
This escalating emergency compounds an existing crisis in a province already sheltering 1.2 million internally displaced persons, according to the UN.
UN humanitarian coordinator in Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, issued an urgent appeal for immediate civilian protection.
"I am deeply saddened by the devastating impact of this fighting on civilian populations. It is imperative to prevent further casualties from being added to the already tragic toll. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas and attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools result in unacceptable loss of life and must stop immediately. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets," he said.
The combat has paralyzed medical evacuation efforts. Lemarquis demanded all conflict parties honor international humanitarian law obligations.
"They must ensure the protection of civilians, respect their distinction in military operations, and ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to deliver life-saving assistance, including care for the wounded," he said.
The bloodshed follows a Dec. 4 signing ceremony in Washington where Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame finalized a "historic" peace and economic agreement designed to end eastern Congo hostilities.
That accord built upon a peace framework brokered by US President Donald Trump in June.
Tshisekedi on Monday accused Rwanda of violating the Trump-brokered peace deal.
Eastern Congo has endured decades of violence, claiming thousands of lives and displacing millions.
Fresh clashes erupting last week between the AFC-M23 rebel faction and government troops continued Monday in Masisi territory, North Kivu province, local and rebel sources confirmed.
The conflict's current phase ignited in 2021 when the M23 rebel organization reemerged and launched operations against Congolese government forces.
The UN, Kinshasa, and international observers accuse neighboring Rwanda of backing M23—allegations Kigali denies.
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