The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Rwanda have signed a key document aimed at advancing peace in DR Congo’s eastern region, Angola announced on Monday.
The region has been destabilised since 2021 by the M23 rebel group, a largely ethnic Tutsi militia reportedly backed by Rwanda. The group’s offensives have displaced thousands and deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Angola brokered a truce in early August that temporarily stabilised the frontlines, but the M23 resumed its offensives at the end of October, violating the ceasefire. Despite these breaches, diplomatic efforts between the DRC and Rwanda have continued, mediated by Angola.
In early November, both nations launched a committee to monitor ceasefire violations, with Angola leading the initiative alongside representatives from DR Congo and Rwanda.
On Monday, the foreign ministers of both countries approved a concept of operations document, described as a “key instrument” to outline how Rwandan troops will withdraw from Congolese territory. The details of this agreement remain undisclosed.
A previous draft of the plan from August stipulated that Rwanda’s withdrawal was contingent upon dismantling the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia formed by former Hutu leaders involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Kigali frequently cites the FDLR as a threat to its security.
Eastern DR Congo, rich in minerals, has faced decades of violence driven by both internal conflicts and cross-border tensions. The latest diplomatic moves are seen as an effort to break this cycle of unrest and promote regional stability.
