Congo Crisis: Surge in Rebel Warfare Challenges Peace Efforts

In eastern Congo's South Kivu province, intensified clashes between the government and rebel groups are escalating. The AFC/M23 rebels' recent activities, including drone strikes, have sparked concerns of prolonged conflict, complicating U.S.-backed peace initiatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross supports the overwhelmed hospital in Fizi.

At Fizi's general hospital, nestled in the highlands of eastern Congo's South Kivu province, nurses rushed a wounded soldier into surgery. This patient, injured in the growing conflict between the army and rebel groups, represents just one of many casualties the facility now struggles to accommodate.

The situation has intensified since the AFC/M23 rebels captured key cities and launched a drone attack on Kisangani airport, retaliating against government strikes. Despite escalating violence and swelling casualty numbers, Congolese authorities remain silent on these recent developments.

Amidst these tensions, Congo and AFC/M23 reached an agreement in Doha to activate a ceasefire monitoring mechanism. Yet, as wounded continue to flood Fizi's hospital, medical staff express fears of resources running thin as diplomatic solutions lag behind on-the-ground realities.

(With inputs from agencies.)