M23 Rebels Defy DRC Ceasefire

M23 rebels violated a recently signed ceasefire with the DRC by killing civilians and expanding territory, casting doubt on the viability of the US- and Qatar-brokered peace deal.

Hopes for a lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were short-lived as renewed violence erupted just days after a truce was signed between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group. The ceasefire agreement, which was reached on 19 July in Doha, Qatar, was intended to mark a turning point in the long-running conflict that has devastated the eastern region of the country.

The peace deal, brokered by the United States and Qatar, and endorsed by the United Nations, the African Union, and regional stakeholders, was viewed as a potential breakthrough in bringing stability to the Great Lakes region. It followed a separate diplomatic agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, aimed at easing tensions over alleged Rwandan support for the M23 rebels — an accusation Kigali has consistently denied.

However, just days after the truce was announced, M23 fighters reportedly launched fresh attacks, killing at least 19 civilians in the town of Bukera and seizing new territory in North Kivu province. The violations have cast serious doubt over the rebels’ commitment to the agreement and underscored the fragile nature of peace efforts in the region.

Critics of the deal have pointed to its vague language, absence of clear enforcement mechanisms, and the lack of provisions for an immediate withdrawal of M23 forces from occupied areas. Civil society organisations, local leaders, and international analysts have expressed deep scepticism, warning that the agreement risks becoming another in a long list of failed ceasefire deals in the DRC’s conflict-ridden history.

“There was a lot of optimism when the truce was signed,” said a Goma-based civil rights activist. “But the lack of accountability and the rebels’ continued aggression show that this agreement, like many before it, may not hold.”

The resurgence of violence comes amid growing pressure on Congolese authorities and regional actors to find a durable solution to the crisis. The conflict between the M23 and government forces has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, disrupted humanitarian aid operations, and contributed to a broader climate of insecurity across the eastern DRC.

M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, has long claimed to be fighting against discrimination and marginalisation by the Congolese government. The group previously seized large parts of eastern DRC in 2012 before being driven out by a joint UN-Congolese offensive in 2013. It has since re-emerged as a formidable force, launching an offensive in late 2021 that reignited regional tensions.

While the DRC government has condemned the latest attacks, it has yet to announce any concrete retaliatory measures. Observers say that unless there is strong international pressure and clear accountability mechanisms, the prospects for peace will remain dim.

As fighting continues and the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the international community faces renewed calls to step up engagement, not only to mediate peace but to ensure that those violating ceasefires are held accountable. Without this, say many observers, the cycle of violence in eastern Congo is likely to persist.