The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have pledged to take “concrete steps” to ease tensions and implement last year’s peace agreement, following talks in Washington, D.C., a joint statement said.
The agreement comes amid ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, a mineral-rich region where the Rwandan-backed M23 controls key towns, despite a peace deal brokered last year with the involvement of Donald Trump.
During the March 17–18 talks, representatives from both countries agreed on a series of coordinated actions to de-escalate tensions. Measures include:
A mutual commitment to uphold each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Scheduled disengagement of Rwandan forces from designated areas in DRC territory.
Time-bound and intensified efforts by the DRC to neutralize the FDLR.
Protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas.
The talks followed increasing pressure from the United States, which recently imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and issued visa restrictions on senior officials due to the ongoing conflict. Washington cited the deployment of thousands of Rwandan troops in eastern DRC, where they are accused of facilitating M23’s control of territory.
Rwanda, however, has denied supporting M23, arguing that DRC’s indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives violate the peace accord. Kigali has also urged Kinshasa to take action against the FDLR, a Hutu militia linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
The joint statement emphasised that both nations are committed to advancing the peace agreement and reducing hostilities on the ground, in hopes of stabilising the region and protecting civilian populations.
