GOMA: Fighting erupted on Friday in eastern DR Congo between a local armed group allied with the Congolese army and M23 rebels, despite a humanitarian truce announced just a week ago, according to local sources cited by AFP.
The United States had brokered the two-week truce between Kinshasa and the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda and have been conducting an offensive in North Kivu province since 2021.
The ceasefire, scheduled from July 5 to July 19, was aimed at alleviating the dire humanitarian crisis in the region, where millions are already displaced.
However, clashes broke out approximately 70 kilometers northwest of Goma, the provincial capital, with reports of ongoing fighting spreading to nearby villages, as confirmed by local residents and a spokesman for the Congolese armed group.
Accusations have been leveled against the Rwandan army for launching attacks on Congolese forces and their allies in Nyange and Mpati villages, exacerbating tensions in the area.
The M23 rebels have encircled Goma, causing significant casualties and displacing hundreds of thousands. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with nearly three million people displaced in North Kivu province alone, hindering aid efforts.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo, fueled by local and foreign armed groups competing for control over the mineral-rich region, has persisted for decades, dating back to the regional wars of the 1990s.
