Trump claims He ended DR Congo war as fighting intensifies in the East
President Donald Trump of the United States on Monday once again asserted that he had brought an end to the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, even as renewed clashes between Congolese forces and AFC/M23 rebels signal an escalation on the ground.
Speaking during his State of the Union address, Trump told Americans that within a short time of returning to office he had managed to halt eight conflicts around the world. Among those he cited were the Israel–Hamas war, tensions between Israel and Iran, hostilities between Pakistan and India, the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.
In December 2025, Trump presided over a peace agreement ceremony in Washington bringing together President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agreement, widely referred to as the Washington Peace Accord, was expected to de-escalate tensions between the two neighboring states, amid accusations from Kinshasa that Kigali was backing the M23 rebellion.
Read Also:AFC/M23 spokesperson Lt. Col Willy Ngoma killed in drone attack
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, fighting has continued in eastern Congo between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and AFC/M23 rebels, with observers noting that hostilities appear to have intensified in recent weeks.
On Monday, February 24, AFC/M23 military spokesperson Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma was killed in a drone strike in the Rubaya area. Congolese forces initially claimed responsibility for his death in a statement posted on their official X account, though the message was later deleted.
Following the strike, AFC/M23—through its political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka—accused the Kinshasa government of launching what it described as “deliberate and indiscriminate attacks” in densely populated areas including Kitendebwa, Kashihe, and Kiduveri in Kalehe territory.
In recent days, Congolese forces have also been accused of mounting major offensives in the highland areas of Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga. Reports indicate that these operations involve allied forces including Burundian troops, Tanzanian forces, FDLR elements, Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries.
Read Also:Angolan forces officially Join War Against AFC/M23 in DRCongo
Although AFC/M23’s top leadership has yet to formally comment on Ngoma’s death or outline its next course of action, analysts monitoring the eastern Congo conflict warn that his killing could trigger retaliatory operations and further intensify open warfare.
Meanwhile, beyond the increased deployment of drone strikes against AFC/M23 positions, reports suggest that Kinshasa has sought additional military support from Angola, which is said to have dispatched troops and fighter aircraft to eastern Congo.
