Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reached a “definitive” agreement to end their decades-long conflict, following three days of intense negotiations in Washington, according to the African Press Agency (APA). The talks were mediated by the United States and Qatar.
The official signing ceremony is scheduled for this Friday, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to attend.
Key Points of the Agreement
The agreement includes:
- The disarmament and withdrawal of armed groups operating in eastern DRC,
- Their integration into national institutions,
- The establishment of a joint monitoring mechanism between Kinshasa and Kigali to prevent renewed violence.
Background of the Conflict
Tensions between the two nations date back to the 1990s, following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Thousands of Hutu militants fled to eastern Congo (then Zaire), forming armed groups like the FDLR, which Rwanda views as a continued threat.
In turn, the DRC has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has carried out attacks in North Kivu, displacing more than 7 million people, according to the United Nations.
A Fragile but Promising Mediation
The recent negotiations, supervised by the U.S. with Qatari support, come amid the gradual withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces and the collapse of previous peace efforts.
Observers see this agreement as a potentially historic breakthrough, but caution that its success depends on actual implementation, mutual trust, and sustained regional and international support.
