New clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese forces have led to the displacement of hundreds of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Tuesday.
According to local sources, violence broke out on Sunday and continued up to Tuesday in Bukumbi, Masisi territory in the North Kivu province.
The fighting comes amid progress in the latest round of peace talks mediated by Qatar, in Switzerland, where the warring sides agreed to release prisoners held by each side within 10 days as well as ensure unimpeded movement of vital humanitarian aid.
The talks were relocated from Doha due to the Middle East war.
“The violence has forced hundreds of people to flee, with some taking refuge in nearby bush areas and others moving towards neighboring Walikale territory,” the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a situation report.
“Displaced families are facing increasingly precarious living conditions, particularly in host areas already under strain.”
The military has yet to issue any communication on the latest clashes.
Earlier in April, residents of several villages in Ufamandu and Nyamaboko in Masisi territory fled their homes to the Walikale area due to violence, according to OCHA.
“There repeated population movements reflect ongoing insecurity in Masisi and are further exacerbating humanitarian needs,” it said.
The M23 rebels have been at the center of the conflict in eastern Congo. The group controls significant territory in eastern Congo, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which were seized early in 2025.
