Description: The M23 rebels and DRC’s military forces supported by local militias have reignited the war in the country, diminishing ceasefire and peace efforts made by the US and Qatar earlier in Jun. Fighting has erupted in the cities of Goma and Bukavu, while M23 rebels have reportedly captured a mining site located in the city of Nzibira. The conflict reignited after months of tensions between DRC’s military and the rebels which failed to reach a consensus over disarmament and territorial control in line with the provisions outlined in the ceasefire agreement and the declaration of principles signed separately between DRC and Rwanda and DRC and the M23 rebels. The rebels are expected to continue their offensive in the city of Uvira in the South Kivu province, close to the Burundian border. Burundi has also amassed its military alongside their border with the DRC, expecting armed fighting in the upcoming period and enhanced influx of refugees.
Impact: The ceasefire agreement between Rwanda and the DRC as well as the declaration of principles signed between DRC’s government and the M23 rebels failed to materialize due to the lack of practical monitoring mechanisms and the absence of peacekeeping troops in the country. Both warring parties would continue to fight over territorial control in crucial areas across eastern DRC in order to ultimately exert control over larger swathes of territory rich in natural resources. The reignited conflict would persist in the upcoming period while peace and mediation efforts from the US and Qatar are expected to prevail in the long – term period as both countries have invested diplomatic and economic resources in the potential peace initiative between the DRC and the M23 rebels. The conflict underscores the ineffectiveness of organizations such as the UN in present day conflict resolution while also underlining that without practical steps such as peacekeeping or monitoring troops the peace initiative would remain futile in the future.