Congo And Rwanda To Sign U.S -Brokered Peace Deal

After years of violence, displacement, and political tension, Congo and Rwanda are set to sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27, offering a potential breakthrough in the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo.

The agreement, backed by the U.S. State Department, comes after months of diplomatic pressure and worsening security in the region. At the heart of the conflict is the M23 rebel group, widely believed to be supported by Rwanda, despite repeated denials from Kigali.

The Conflict Behind the Headlines
Eastern Congo has long been the epicenter of armed violence, with more than 100 militias fighting for control of territory, mineral wealth, and influence. Among them, the M23 rebels stand out mostly made up of ethnic Tutsis who say they are defending their communities from discrimination.

But Congolese officials and international observers see another story. U.N. experts have reported that M23 operates with support from about 4,000 Rwandan troops, raising fears that Rwanda’s interest in Congo is less about protection and more about control over the region’s vast resources, including gold, coltan, and rare earth minerals.

The crisis deepened in early 2025 when M23 forces seized the strategic city of Goma in January and Bukavu in February moves that embarrassed Kinshasa and raised alarm among global powers.

What the Peace Agreement Promises
According to a joint statement from Congo, Rwanda, and the U.S., the proposed peace deal includes:

Respect for territorial integrity
A ban on future hostilities
Disarmament and disengagement of non-state armed groups
Conditional integration of some rebel factions into state security forces
It’s a familiar formula similar language has been used in previous peace deals, many of which fell apart within months. The real test, analysts say, lies in implementation, trust, and accountability.

Will It Hold?
Christian Moleka, a respected political analyst at the Congolese think tank Dypol, warns that the success of this agreement hinges on deeper changes.

“It depends on Kinshasa’s willingness to undertake structural reforms of the security apparatus, and on the international community’s commitment to see the process through,” he said.
Without these reforms, he cautions, the agreement could become just another document collecting dust well-intentioned, but ultimately ineffective.

The Shadow of Distrust
Tensions between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have worsened in recent years. Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of ignoring the concerns of ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo, and of failing to honour earlier peace talks. Meanwhile, Congo sees Rwanda’s support of M23 as a direct violation of its sovereignty.

In April, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, a rebel coalition, expressed doubt that peace would last, saying proposed U.S. mineral deals and sanctions were “not enough to stop the fighting.”

A Turning Point or Another False Dawn?
As the world watches the June 27 signing in Washington, the people of eastern Congo who have lived through decades of displacement, death, and instability are hoping this agreement brings more than just promises.

For them, peace isn’t political it’s deeply personal. And while the road ahead is uncertain, a signed deal may offer a glimmer of hope in a region that has known too little of it.