The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes warned on Tuesday that renewed fighting in eastern Congo threatens to destabilise the wider region. It voiced grave concern over a fresh M23 offensive near Uvira in South Kivu, describing the surge in violence as deeply alarming.
It highlighted the growing use of attack and suicide drones, calling the tactic a dangerous escalation that sharply increases risks for civilians. It urged the M23 and Rwanda’s Defence Force to halt all offensive operations immediately and prevent further deterioration on the ground.
It pressed the RDF to withdraw from eastern Congo and demanded the M23 return to earlier positions agreed under the Doha principles. It reminded all parties of their obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which orders an end to M23 attacks and Rwanda’s alleged support.
The court called for strict respect for Congo’s territorial integrity and adherence to the Washington Accords signed to ease cross-border tensions. The court appealed for restraint from all actors and insisted that humanitarian agencies receive safe and unhindered access to communities in need.
It noted that the group includes major partners such as the US, EU, UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland. The M23 announced on Tuesday that it will hold new talks with the Congolese government in Doha in the coming days.
The sides last month signed a peace framework in Qatar following their July Declaration of Principles aimed at securing a fragile ceasefire. The latest clashes in South Kivu have killed at least seventy-four people and wounded more than eighty others, according to local authorities.
The conflict reignited in 2021 when M23 re-emerged and began a sustained campaign against Congolese forces across the eastern provinces. The group has since tightened its grip over parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, fuelling fears of a widening and prolonged crisis.