Fresh fighting has erupted between the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), alongside Wazalendo coalition forces, across several fronts in South Kivu province.
According to locals, heavy gunfire broke out on Tuesday in Mikenke, located in the highlands of Minembwe, sparking panic and forcing civilians to flee their homes.
Clashes were also reported in the localities of Lumbishi, Katale, and Tushunguti.
The M23/AFC spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, released a statement confirming the fighting, saying hostilities in Mikenke began at around 6:45am , before spreading minutes later to Lumbishi, Katale, and Tushunguti at approximately 6:50am.
Kanyuka accuses FARDC and its allied coalition forces of launching attacks using combat drones, alleging that the strikes targeted densely populated civilian areas.
He said the attacks resulted in loss of lives, destruction of homes, and killing of livestock, leaving many. He also alleges that the attacks later spread to Kalehe territory, where more civilian areas were deliberately targeted, describing the actions as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
Kanyuka calls on the Congolese population and the international community to take note of what he described as crimes against civilians, adding that M23/AFC remains prepared to protect civilian populations by all necessary means.
FARDC had not issued an official statement on the latest clashes by press time. The renewed violence undermines ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict through dialogue, including talks in Doha.
Previous peace agreements have repeatedly collapsed, with both sides trading accusations of ceasefire violations. The M23/AFC group, which resurged in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, has frequently clashed with government forces.
The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of backing the rebels, claims denied by both Kigali and the M23/AFC.The rebel group says its struggle is aimed at combating corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s leadership.
In early 2025, it launched a rapid offensive in eastern Congo, capturing several strategic towns and raising fears of a wider regional conflict. URN