The ink was barely dry on a Washington peace accord when mortar fire shattered the morning calm in Kamanyola, sending hundreds of terrified civilians fleeing across the Ruzizi River into Rwanda.

The capture of this strategic trade hub by M23 rebels—just one day after a high-profile de-escalation deal—exposes the fragile reality of eastern Congo’s security and threatens to drag the Great Lakes region back into a wider cross-border war. For Kenya, a key architect of the regional peace process, the renewed violence signals that diplomatic handshakes in Western capitals are failing to silence the guns in the Kivu mountains.

Diplomacy vs. Reality

Thursday’s agreement in Washington D.C. was billed as a breakthrough to stabilize the resource-rich east, an area that has bled from three decades of conflict. Yet, the disconnect between the boardroom and the battlefield could not be starker.

By Friday morning, heavy fighting had erupted in South Kivu province. The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, launched a fierce offensive against the Congolese army (FARDC), which was backed on the ground by thousands of Burundian soldiers. The objective was clear: control of Kamanyola.

This town is not just another coordinate on a map; it is a vital tri-border node where the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi meet. Its fall to rebel forces effectively chokes a critical commercial artery.

The Battle for the Tri-Border

Witnesses on the Rwandan side of the border described a chaotic scene. An AFP journalist in Bugarama, roughly 2km (1.3 miles) from the fighting, reported heavy detonations shaking buildings throughout the morning.

• Rebel Advances: M23 forces have effectively taken control of the town, pushing government forces back.
• Burundian Involvement: A Burundian military source confirmed their troops were reinforcing positions to prevent being overrun, marking a significant escalation in foreign troop involvement.
• Mutual Accusations: The M23 leadership accused the Burundian army of firing “without interruption” into DRC territory, justifying their advance as a counter-measure.

The Kenyan Lens: Why It Matters

While the fighting is in South Kivu, the shockwaves are felt in Nairobi. Kenya has invested heavily—both diplomatically and financially—in the stability of the DRC, its newest partner in the East African Community (EAC). Instability here disrupts the Northern Corridor trade route, impacting Kenyan manufacturers and exporters who rely on these markets.

Furthermore, the humanitarian toll is mounting. Hundreds of families have already crossed into Rwanda, adding to a refugee crisis that strains regional resources. If the conflict widens to draw in Rwanda and Burundi directly, the economic fallout for the entire bloc could be catastrophic.

As the dust settles over Kamanyola, the international community is left with a grim question. As one regional security analyst noted, “Agreements signed in air-conditioned rooms mean nothing if they cannot stop the mortars falling on thatched roofs.”