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Fighting Erupts in South Kivu Hours After Washington Peace Accord Signed

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Washington Accord Signed by Congo and Rwanda Amid Persistent Conflict On December 4‑5 2025, President Donald Trump hosted DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame to sign the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, extending a June 2025 agreement and promising mineral‑sector cooperation for U.S. firms [3][1]. The deal pledges to end state support for the FDLR, expand trade in critical minerals, and formalize economic integration, but it explicitly excludes the M23 rebel movement [2][3]. Both leaders presented the pact as a historic step toward stabilizing eastern Congo, while analysts note that core grievances remain unresolved [1].

M23 Rebels Reject Accord and Maintain Offensive Operations The Tutsi‑led M23, backed by Rwanda, seized Goma in late January 2025 and captured Bukavu in February, extending control over key mining towns [2]. The group denied any obligation to the Washington deal, blaming government forces for attacks and claiming to have shot down a Congolese drone [1]. UN experts estimate up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are operating “de‑facto” with M23, a claim Kigali rejects, underscoring the rebels’ continued capacity to challenge the peace framework [2].

Heavy Artillery, Drone Strikes, and Mass Displacement Resurface in South Kivu Fighting erupted on December 5 2025 in South Kivu’s Kaziba, Katogota, and Rurambo axes, with reports of artillery bombardments, drone attacks, and jet strikes on densely populated areas [1]. Government spokespeople accused Rwandan Defense Forces of indiscriminate bombing in Luvungi, while videos showed families fleeing on foot with livestock and homes destroyed [1]. No consolidated casualty toll was released, but witnesses confirmed civilian deaths and widespread destruction of property [1].

U.S. Mineral Interests and UN Peacekeeping Shape the Diplomatic Landscape The Trump administration seeks access to Congo’s rare‑earth and coltan deposits to reduce reliance on China, linking mineral concessions to the peace process [3]. The UN’s MONUSCO mission, a 10,000‑strong force active since 1999, continues operations in the east despite criticism from Kinshasa officials [2][3]. Discrepancies persist over Rwanda’s involvement with M23 and the deal’s exclusion of the rebels, raising doubts about the accord’s ability to deliver immediate stability [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

1999 – The United Nations establishes MONUSCO, a 10,000‑strong peacekeeping force in eastern DR Congo, later creating the Force Intervention Brigade that will defeat M23 in 2013 [1].

2013 – MONUSCO’s Force Intervention Brigade launches a successful offensive that drives the M23 rebel group from key positions, marking the first major defeat of the militia [1].

Dec 2023 – A UN report documents that roughly 120 tonnes of coltan are shipped from M23‑controlled mines to Rwanda every four weeks, highlighting the rebel group’s role in illicit mineral trade [1].

Jan 2025 – M23 rebels seize the major transport hub of Goma in North Kivu, but withdraw later in the month after intense fighting [1].

Feb 2025 – M23 captures Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, extending its control over additional mining towns in eastern Congo [1].

June 2025 – Congo and M23 sign a June peace agreement that pledges a ceasefire and outlines steps toward political integration, though implementation remains incomplete [3].

2025 – The United States brokers a Washington peace deal between Rwanda and DR Congo that calls for ending state support for the FDLR and expanding critical‑mineral trade, but it excludes M23 [1].

2025 – UN experts estimate up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are operating “de‑facto” with M23 forces, a claim Rwanda denies [1].

Dec 4, 2025 – President Donald Trump hosts Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame at the U.S. Institute of Peace to sign the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, a deal that builds on the June 2025 agreement and seeks U.S. access to Congo’s rare‑earth minerals [3].

Dec 4, 2025 – Trump declares the Washington Accords “settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” emphasizing the deal’s historic diplomatic significance [2].

Dec 5, 2025 – Hours after the signing, armed clashes erupt in South Kivu with artillery, drones and heavy bombardment reported, indicating that fighting resumes despite the new agreement [2].

Dec 5, 2025 – AFC/M23 rebels state they are not bound by the Washington Accords, claim to have retaken Luberika and assert they shot down a Congolese drone [2].

Dec 5, 2025 – A Congolese army spokesperson accuses Rwandan Defense Forces of “indiscriminate bombardments” in Luvungi and says the army conducts “relentless attacks” using jets, drones and artillery on densely populated areas [2].

Dec 5, 2025 – Videos show families fleeing on foot with belongings and livestock near Luvungi; the AFC/M23 spokesperson reports destroyed homes and civilian deaths, though no total casualty figure is released [2].

Dec 2025 (future) – Analysts warn that while the U.S. diplomacy may have paused escalation, neither Congo nor Rwanda has fulfilled June‑2025 pledges, suggesting continued instability and the need for further monitoring [2].

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