Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to begin implementing security measures under a U.S.-mediated peace deal next month. The agreement, negotiated in Washington on September 17-18, sets October 1 as the official start date for phased security operations.
Implementation aims to neutralize the FDLR armed group and facilitate the withdrawal of Rwandan troops by the end of this year. Foreign ministers from both countries initially signed the peace deal in Washington on June 27, alongside a meeting with U.S. officials.
The deal seeks to fulfil a 2024 agreement requiring Rwanda to lift defensive measures within 90 days, synchronised with Congo’s military operations. Intelligence exchanges between the two sides allowed the development of a phased plan targeting FDLR combatants and easing troop disengagement.
Long-standing tensions have complicated progress, including disputes over Rwanda’s alleged ties to the M23 rebel group and the group’s combatant numbers. Rwanda maintains it acts defensively, while U.N. experts report Kigali exercises command over the M23, deepening mistrust in peace negotiations.
Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi told the United Nations that Rwandan troop withdrawal and the end of support for M23 are non-negotiable. Meanwhile, direct talks between Congo and M23, hosted by Qatar, missed an August 18 deadline, delaying broader regional peace and economic initiatives.
Leaders have yet to schedule a Washington meeting, where they are expected to sign a regional economic integration framework next week. The September U.S. meeting underscores cautious optimism, as both countries commit to implementing measures, despite decades of conflict shadowing the region.