Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is once again engulfed in violence, with thousands of civilians forced to abandon their homes as intense fighting ravages the region. In South Kivu, men, women, and children clutching their few belongings are fleeing villages under relentless bombardment, marking yet another humanitarian crisis in a region long plagued by instability.
The latest wave of violence has hit towns including Luvungi, Katogota, and Kamanyola, leaving communities in shock and mourning. On Saturday alone, civilians reported fleeing under heavy shelling, as bombs rained down from both the Congolese army and the M23 rebel forces. Mulumbulwa Gabriel, a resident of Luvungi, recounted the devastation: “Since the day before yesterday, they have caused numerous deaths. Yesterday, people were killed in my neighborhood, which is why we decided to flee today.”
The fighting has left scores dead, with local sources reporting around twenty civilian fatalities just in the Ruzizi plain near Luvungi. Families are undertaking perilous journeys on foot to reach relative safety in towns such as Uvira. “We are walking to Uvira,” said Aline Sambuka, a mother of children who survived the attacks. “May the authorities help put an end to this war! We want to go back home and live like everyone else. Many people have died because of the bombings. I survived with my children.”
This surge in violence comes on the heels of a hopeful, yet fragile, peace initiative. Just days earlier, on Thursday, President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda signed an agreement in Washington aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability to the eastern region. However, the fragile accord quickly unraveled as both the Congolese Armed Forces and M23 accused each other of violating the ceasefire, a tragic reminder that peace remains elusive in this troubled corner of Africa.
As the conflict escalates, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, highlighting the urgent need for renewed international attention and intervention to protect civilians and bring lasting peace to a region weary of decades of war.