Foreign ministers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda met on Tuesday in Goma, North Kivu, to affirm the necessity of adhering to a ceasefire in eastern DRC, where conflict continues to escalate. This meeting, attended by Angola’s foreign minister, aimed to establish a committee tasked with monitoring violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in place since early August following mediation efforts by Angola.
Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio underscored the importance of peace, stating, “We all insisted on the need for a respect of the ceasefire,” and emphasized that “the right path is the search for peace.” While Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner refrained from commenting after the meeting, she had previously noted a “certain contradiction” between Rwanda’s public statements and its actions on the ground, particularly regarding the capture of specific localities.
The M23 rebel group, which has been accused of receiving Rwandan support, resumed its offensive in October, seizing multiple localities and clashing with Congolese armed forces and allied militia groups. Angola condemned the M23’s occupation of a town in early October, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire.
Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed his country’s commitment to the peace process during the meeting. The newly formed committee to monitor ceasefire compliance will be led by Angola and will include representatives from both the DRC and Rwanda.
This latest surge in violence saw the M23 temporarily taking control of a town along the shores of Lake Edward, which borders the DRC and Uganda. Since reigniting its offensive in late 2021, the M23—a largely ethnic Tutsi militia—has captured significant territory in eastern DRC, leading to widespread displacement and a growing humanitarian crisis.
