Violence has flared along the Cambodia-Thailand border and in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, imperiling two peace agreements that former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly championed as diplomatic achievements.

In Southeast Asia, a ceasefire intended to halt a protracted territorial dispute collapsed in recent days after renewed clashes, including airstrikes and artillery exchanges, killed scores and displaced vast numbers of civilians.

In central Africa, fighting has surged between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-linked M23 militia, despite a U.S.-brokered accord intended to end decades of conflict.

In both regions, the breakdown of ceasefires underscores the fragility of agreements that lacked robust enforcement mechanisms and sustained diplomatic follow-through.

On the Cambodia-Thailand frontier, clashes reignited following an incident that wounded Thai soldiers, shattering a truce that had briefly curbed hostilities.

Thai air force jets struck targets in Cambodia’s border provinces, while both sides accused each other of breaching the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed in late October — a pact witnessed by Mr Trump and regional leaders amid hopes of lasting peace.

The violence quickly escalated into heavy exchanges of fire and shelling along the contested boundary around the historic Preah Vihear temple and other sectors, forcing over half a million people on both sides to flee their homes.

Cambodia has expressed readiness for peace talks but insists that Thailand first de-escalate, while Thai leaders have pushed back against third-party mediation amid rising nationalist sentiment.

In eastern Congo, M23 rebels have seized the strategic town of Uvira and pressed their offensive towards additional population centres, even as government forces and allied militias contest control.

The renewed offensive comes days after the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity in early December, a U.S.-facilitated agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda intended to end hostilities and integrate security and economic cooperation.

Despite formal commitments to withdraw support for armed groups and establish joint security mechanisms, M23 has continued armed operations, driving tens of thousands of civilians from their homes and prompting urgent international calls for de-escalation.

Government officials in Kinshasa have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the rebels in violation of the peace pact, a charge Kigali denies, instead attributing unrest to rival forces within Congo.

International actors, including the United States and members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes Region, have urged all parties to honour their commitments and resume diplomatic engagement.

The return to violence in both theatres highlights the challenges of translating accord signings into enduring peace absent sustained oversight and accountability.

The setbacks arrive amid broader global diplomatic efforts, even as the Trump-era foreign policy legacy emphasised rapid negotiations and high-profile peace events.

With conflicts in both Asia and Africa now intensifying, regional and international stakeholders are calling for renewed diplomatic energy to prevent further humanitarian suffering and instability.