Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have agreed to take “concrete steps” to ease rising tensions in eastern DR Congo, following high-level talks hosted by the United States in Washington.
The announcement comes amid a stalled peace process and ongoing conflict in the region, despite a peace agreement signed last year under the auspices of Donald Trump. Earlier this month, the US imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Forces and four senior officials, accusing Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebel group and exacerbating the conflict.
In a joint statement by DR Congo, Rwanda, and the United States said they had “agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.” Both countries pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Under the agreement, Rwanda will disengage its forces and lift “defensive measures… in defined areas within DR Congo’s territory,” while DR Congo will step up “time-bound” operations to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda1994 Rwandan genocide that remains active in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda has repeatedly described the FDLR as a “genocidal militia” and warned that its presence in DR Congo poses a direct threat to Rwandan security. While Rwanda has denied supporting M23, it maintains that its military presence in DR Congo is defensive, aimed at protecting its territory from armed groups operating in the eastern Congo region.
The agreement marks a significant diplomatic step toward de-escalation in one of Africa’s most volatile regions, with the US playing a central role in facilitating dialogue and coordination between the two nations
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