Heavy clashes have continued across Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), despite a recently signed ceasefire oversight and monitoring agreement brokered under Qatari mediation.
The deal, concluded on October 14 in Doha, was intended to track and report violations of existing truce commitments between Kinshasa and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) rebel movement.
According to Radio Okapi, a UN-backed Congolese news outlet regarded as a primary field source for eastern DRC conflict updates, fresh fighting erupted on October 19 in Nyiragongo, Masisi, and Bibwe territories in Nord-Kivu. New clashes were also reported in Walungu and near the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Sud-Kivu.
Local authorities said the renewed hostilities have displaced hundreds of civilians and disrupted aid routes.
The monitoring mechanism signed in Doha is not a full peace accord but an oversight framework designed to facilitate communication, record incidents, and support future confidence-building.
Implementation has been complicated by the presence of Wazalendo militias—local pro-government fighters who back the national army (FARDC) but operate largely outside its command structure and were not signatories to the deal.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the agreement last week, stating that the accord was reached in coordination with the Congolese government and regional partners from the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and East African Community (EAC). A regional verification mission has yet to deploy.
The Congolese Ministry of Communication reiterated that the M23/AFC remains designated a terrorist group, while Rwanda, which Kinshasa accuses of supporting the rebels, has denied involvement. Independent verification of field conditions remains limited as MONUSCO peacekeepers face restricted access in Masisi and Rutshuru.
The renewed clashes risk further undermining the fragile truce and deepening humanitarian needs in eastern DRC, where more than 6.9mn people are already displaced, according to OCHA’s October 2025 update. bne IntelliNews
