The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) has expressed “alarm” about a fresh escalation in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo near the border with Burundi.

The ICG comprises the governments of the United States of America, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as members.

Renewed episodes of fighting have been reported just after the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement in Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump serving as a mediator.

It also expressed concern at what it described as increased use of both attack and suicide drones in the conflict. “This represents a significant escalation in the fighting and poses an acute risk to civilian populations.”

The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) to immediately cease offensive operations in eastern DRC, especially in South Kivu, and calls for the RDF to withdraw from eastern DRC. The Group also urged the M23 to uphold its commitments under the Declaration of Principles signed in Doha on July 19, 2025.

The ICG urged both parties to uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 and immediately de-escalate the situation.”

“We urge all parties to avoid escalatory or provocative speech and actions that gravely endanger civilian populations and risk irreparably undermining the significant progress achieved with the Framework Agreement signed in Doha on 15 November 2025 by the Government of the DRC and M23,” the statement said. “The ICG further calls on all actors involved to urgently and unequivocally recommit to the ceasefire and to ensure full, safe and unimpeded, humanitarian access so that critical assistance can reach those in need.”

Fighting in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stems from the 1994 Rwandan genocide fallout, involving ethnic tensions, struggles over rich mineral resources, and numerous armed groups clashing with government forces (FARDC) and UN peacekeepers, creating massive displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.