The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to take concrete steps to ease tensions amid a stalled peace process, after talks hosted by the US in Washington.
Conflict in eastern DR Congo has continued despite the two countries signing a peace deal with US President Donald Trump last year.
The pledge to ease tensions comes after the US earlier this month sanctioned the Rwandan Defence Forces and four senior officials and accused Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebel group, blaming it for escalating the conflict.
A joint statement by DR Congo, Rwanda, and the US states they have agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.
They pledged to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Rwanda would disengage its forces and lift defensive measures... in defined areas in DR Congo's territory.
Meanwhile, DR Congo would intensify time-bound efforts to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group comprised of Rwandan ethnic Hutus involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Rwanda has described the FDLR as a genocidal militia and stated that its presence in eastern DR Congo poses a significant threat to its own territory.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Rwanda has continuously denied supporting the M23, claiming its military presence is a necessary response to threats against its security arising from armed groups in DR Congo.
Fighting has persisted in eastern DR Congo despite the US-brokered peace agreement meant to resolve the enduring conflict. Following the peace agreement’s signing, the M23 captured the Congolese city of Uvira near the Burundi border. While US pressure facilitated their withdrawal, they still control significant parts of eastern DR Congo, including major cities like Goma and Bukavu.
Amidst ongoing tensions, the UK government has observed that the Rwandan military’s association with M23 could escalate conflict into a broader regional war.
Rwanda has rebuffed these accusations, arguing that they unjustly target one side of the conflict and distort the realities on the ground. They have also accused DR Congo of violating the peace agreement through indiscriminate drone attacks.
Recent drone strikes in eastern DR Congo have added to the tensions, resulting in the deaths of a French UN worker and two others. The Congolese army, situated far from the city, regularly conducts long-range drone operations against M23 positions, while the M23 has been reported to deploy explosive drones as well.
