Fighting erupted Tuesday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after a two-day lull, with Rwanda-backed M23 fighters attacking Congolese army positions in South Kivu province at dawn, local and security sources told AFP.
The resurgence comes after east and southern African leaders called at a summit on Saturday for an "unconditional" ceasefire within five days, fearing the conflict, which has killed thousands and driven vast numbers from their homes, would spill over into neighbouring countries.
The M23 has in recent months swiftly seized tracts of territory in mineral-rich east DRC after again taking up arms in late 2021, in a country plagued by numerous conflicts for decades.
The armed group, which claims to protect ethnic Tutsis, began advancing in South Kivu after taking control of Goma, the capital of neighbouring North Kivu province that borders Rwanda, at the end of last month.
