The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated sharply despite a recent peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C., with fighting intensifying in the eastern regions, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and leading to the capture of the strategic town of Uvira by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The situation remains volatile as reports indicate continued military support from Rwanda to M23, despite international condemnation and calls for peace.
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Escalation of Fighting and Displacement: Over 200,000 people have fled eastern DRC in recent days due to intensified clashes, following the signing of the Washington Accord, which was hailed as historic by U.S. President Donald Trump. The fighting has led to widespread displacement and humanitarian crises, with the U.N. warning of dire food insecurity affecting 28 million people in the region.
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Capture of Uvira by M23 Rebels: M23 rebels claimed to have captured the key border town of Uvira near Burundi, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The offensive reportedly involved a coalition of Congolese and Burundian forces, which were defeated in the area. Burundi has since reportedly begun negotiating the withdrawal of its troops from South Kivu amid the ongoing offensive.
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International Reactions and Sanctions: The U.S. has condemned Rwanda for its military actions in the DRC, with the U.S. ambassador to the UN accusing Rwanda of leading the region toward war. The DRC’s top diplomat has urged the U.S. to impose sanctions on Rwanda to salvage the peace process. Meanwhile, Rwanda denies direct involvement, blaming the DRC and Burundi for cross-border attacks.
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Complexity of the Conflict: The situation is further complicated by the presence of over 120 armed groups in the region, including the Islamic State-aligned Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has carried out deadly attacks on civilians, including a church massacre in Ituri Province that killed at least 40 people. M23 has also been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial executions and gang rape, according to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
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Peace Process Challenges: Despite high-level diplomatic efforts, including multiple meetings between the leaders of the DRC, Rwanda, and the U.S., the peace process has faltered. M23 leaders have stated that no meaningful change will occur on the ground until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached, indicating skepticism toward the current diplomatic framework. The group has even established a parallel administration in areas it controls, collecting taxes and training civilian leaders, which undermines state authority.
As of December 16, 2025, the conflict remains unresolved, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating and peace efforts under severe strain.