Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is once again gripped by intense conflict as M23 rebels advance towards Uvira, a strategically vital, government-held city in the mineral-rich region. This renewed offensive has unleashed a wave of terror, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and seek refuge across the border in neighboring Burundi. Reports from residents and military sources depict a chaotic scene, with sporadic gunfire and explosions echoing through the city and soldiers reportedly retreating under the rebel assault.

Despite a US-brokered peace deal signed last week between DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, aimed at de-escalating the long-running conflict, fighting has persisted. Uvira, situated just 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, was reported to be in lockdown, with shops and schools shuttered and terrified residents sheltering indoors. There were initial fears that rebels had taken control of some government buildings, though South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi vehemently dismissed these claims as "completely unfounded rumors," maintaining that the city remained under the control of government forces.

The humanitarian fallout of this latest conflict is severe. The UN reports that approximately 200,000 people have been displaced in eastern DR Congo since the current round of fighting began early this month, with at least 74 people killed, mostly civilians, and 83 hospitalized with injuries. The influx of refugees into Burundi has been dramatic, with an administrative source reporting over 8,000 daily arrivals in the past two days and a total of 30,000 arrivals within a single week, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance.

Internationally, there is growing concern and condemnation. The US, European Union, and eight European nations have jointly accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23 rebel offensive. In a joint statement, they expressed "profound concern" over the violence, warning of its "destabilizing potential for the whole region." They specifically urged the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to "immediately halt offensive operations" and withdraw its troops from eastern DR Congo. A US state department spokesman reiterated this stance, stating that Rwanda "continues to provide support to M23 [and] must prevent further escalation."

Rwanda, however, has vehemently denied any involvement in the fighting. In a statement on X, the Rwandan foreign ministry accused DR Congo's government and its ally, Burundi, of violating a ceasefire and systematically bombing villages near Rwanda's border, claiming that the responsibility for the ceasefire violation "cannot be placed on Rwanda." This contrasts sharply with assessments by UN experts, who have stated that Rwanda's army is in "de facto control of M23 operations."

DR Congo President Tshisekedi, in a national address, characterized the conflict as a "proxy war aimed at challenging our sovereignty over a highly strategic area, rich in critical minerals and economic potential that is crucial to the future of our nation." This latest M23 offensive follows nearly a year after the rebels seized control of Goma and Bukavu, the other two main cities in eastern DR Congo. Notably, the M23 is not party to the US-brokered peace deal but is engaged in separate mediation efforts with DR Congo's government led by Qatar. The eastern DR Congo has been plagued by conflict for over 30 years, ever since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with numerous armed groups vying for power and control over the vast nation's immense mineral wealth, and multiple peace deals collapsing over the decades.