Image @ nilepost.co.ug
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have decided to adopt new measures to lessen fighting in eastern Congo, according to a joint statement released following negotiations in Washington on March 17 and 18. Both nations pledged to carry out concerted measures to reduce hostilities and advance the accord from last year.
A pledge to respect each other’s sovereignty, the anticipated withdrawal of Rwandan forces from portions of Congolese territory, and Congo’s accelerated, time-bound attempts to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) are among the measures. In the face of M23 rebel rule and recent US sanctions on Rwanda, the commitment revives the Washington Accords agreed under President Donald Trump in December 2025.
The FDLR, an armed group led by Hutus and connected to those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is still active in eastern Congo. Congo has accused Kigali of supporting the M23 rebel organization, while Rwanda has long referred to the group as a direct security danger.
Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in December by President Donald Trump and mediated by the US, fighting has persisted. The M23 has remained at the center of the fight, controlling significant portions of the mineral-rich east, including the important cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Tensions have increased after drone attacks occurred recently. Last week, two people and a French national employed by the UN were slain, highlighting the increasing dangers to both civilians and humanitarian personnel.
In one of the largest escalations in months, the M23 group moved into the city of Uvira, which is close to the Burundian border, a few days after the accord was struck before retreating under siege. It still occupies a considerable area.
The most recent diplomatic initiative coincides with Washington’s increased pressure on Rwanda. Rwanda’s military and a number of high-ranking officials were subject to sanctions earlier this month by the US, which accused them of aiding M23 operations.
Although Rwanda has denied aiding M23, claiming that its military posture is defensive and connected to threats from armed groups like the FDLR, US officials stated that the rebels’ battlefield achievements would not have been feasible without outside support. There is a great deal of mistrust between the two countries, since Kigali has also accused Congo of violating the previous pact through drone strikes and ground offensives.
A complicated combination of armed factions and rivalry for abundant mineral resources, such as gold, cobalt, and coltan, which are essential to global technology and supply systems for electric vehicles, is driving the conflict in eastern Congo. The situation on the ground is still unstable, despite the additional commitments signalling cautious progress. Diplomats have warned that failing to carry out the agreed-upon actions might escalate the conflict into a larger regional catastrophe.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah