Congo and Rwanda have agreed to a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, according to a joint press release from both countries and the U.S. State Department on Wednesday. The two nations are set to sign the deal in Washington on June 27.
The agreement comes amid long-standing tensions, with Congo accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group in the eastern part of the country. United Nations experts have estimated that around 4,000 Rwandan troops are backing the rebels, who have escalated the violence in recent months.
The conflict reached a new height in January when M23 forces advanced and took control of the strategic city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The draft peace agreement includes key provisions to address the crisis, including commitments to respect territorial integrity, a cessation of hostilities, and the disengagement and disarmament of non-state armed groups. The agreement also proposes the conditional integration of such groups into the broader political process.
Despite past failed peace talks some mediated by Qatar both countries are hopeful that this agreement will bring about a lasting resolution. However, skeptics like Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, argue that international sanctions and Congo’s mineral deal with the U.S. will not be enough to end the violence.
The conflict has devastated the region, with M23 being just one of around 100 armed groups vying for control over the mineral rich eastern Congo. The ongoing violence has displaced more than 7 million people, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The signing of this agreement represents a critical moment in efforts to bring peace and stability to the volatile region. However, questions remain about whether the deal can hold and lead to a durable peace after decades of conflict.
