United States hosted representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday to address the stalled peace process in eastern Congo.
The meetings marked the first engagement between the parties since the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officers on March 2, citing alleged Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group. Rwanda denies backing the rebels.
M23 staged a rapid advance in eastern Congo in January 2025 and continues to hold significant territory. Washington has expressed concern that the rebels’ presence near the Burundi border could escalate the conflict into a broader regional war.
In a joint statement released by the U.S. State Department, Congo and Rwanda “agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.” Key measures include mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, disengagement of Rwandan forces from defined areas in DRC territory, intensified DRC efforts to neutralize the FDLR, and the protection of civilians.
The FDLR was formed by Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide, which killed nearly one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Meanwhile, M23 claims to defend ethnic Tutsi communities in eastern Congo.
Rwanda and the DRC previously signed a peace deal in Washington in December, part of Donald Trump’s initiative to promote stability in the region and attract Western investment. However, M23 rebels briefly captured the eastern Congo city of Uvira shortly after the agreement, prompting U.S. pressure for their withdrawal.
The recent talks aim to reinforce previous commitments and prevent renewed violence, signalling continued U.S. engagement in stabilizing eastern Congo.
