Conflict Escalates in DR Congo as M23 Rebels Reinforce Positions
Government troops and rebels trade accusations of truce violations, sparking fears of renewed large-scale fighting.
Tensions are mounting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the army and M23 rebels are reinforcing their positions in the eastern provinces, despite peace agreements signed earlier this year.
The rebel group, which is widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, has reportedly taken up new defensive positions near key towns in North Kivu. In response, Congolese forces have deployed reinforcements, raising fears of an imminent clash.
At the centre of the dispute are unfulfilled demands: the government accuses M23 of refusing to release prisoners and withdraw from occupied territories, while the rebels say Kinshasa has violated earlier accords.
Humanitarian agencies warn that renewed fighting could displace tens of thousands of civilians in an area already struggling with food insecurity and one of the world’s largest internal displacement crises.
The United Nations has called on both sides to respect ceasefire commitments. But with trust at a low point, analysts warn that eastern Congo could once again descend into open war, further destabilising the Great Lakes region.
Source: Reuters
