Fighting has intensified in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) despite ongoing regional mediation efforts.
Over the weekend of August 8, clashes broke out in North Kivu between the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC, the country’s official national army) supported by Wazalendo militias (Local self-defense civilian groups), and the AFC/M23 group (Rwanda-sponsored rebel group), despite the ceasefire agreed in Doha between Kinshasa and AFC/M23 just days earlier. The agreement, intended to halt hostilities and pave the way for political dialogue, was quickly undermined as both sides accused each other of violations.
The situation on the ground remains unclear: fleeing civilians report that M23 is seeking to capture the strategic town of Pinga, with the provincial government also confirming the loss of villages in the Mulamba area, even as FARDC dismissed reports of territorial setbacks as inaccurate.
Further north, in Ituri province, FARDC also engaged in battles on August 13–14 with the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP, politico-military group presenting itself as defending the Hema community). The clashes killed at least 31 people, including 19 civilians, and over 15,000 fled to Bunia.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit opened in Madagascar on August 17, with discussions including the DRC crisis. However, DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi canceled his attendance citing “agenda reasons,” amid speculation he sought to avoid pressure or criticism over military strategy, negotiations, and the stalled peace process.