Experts Say DR Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal Could Ease Crisis for Millions
(MENAFN) Experts voiced cautious optimism following the signing of a new peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, hoping it will mark a turning point in resolving the protracted conflict that has ravaged eastern Congo and triggered a worsening humanitarian crisis.
According to UN data released late last year, over 6.7 million people remain displaced within Congo’s borders. Facing persistent violence and diminishing international aid, many have fled to neighboring countries—including Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. The worsening funding shortfall has forced the UN World Food Program (WFP) to scale back or eliminate food aid in several host nations.
“Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people and refugees who have fled the conflict in Congo will certainly return home. People have been suffering as a result of this conflict, especially women and children,” said Harold Acemah, a political analyst and former Ugandan diplomat, in remarks to media.
As of February, fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese government forces had forced at least 500,000 people to flee and claimed the lives of more than 3,000, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
The prolonged conflict has severely hindered the delivery of life-saving aid—including food and medicine—with many areas cut off due to persistent insecurity. Displaced populations continue to struggle without basic essentials.
Acemah described the peace agreement—signed Friday in Washington—as a positive development and urged African Union nations to back its implementation. “They should play a role for it to be implemented,” he added.
The US-brokered accord builds on foundational principles outlined in a joint declaration signed by the two nations on April 23. It directly addresses key concerns raised by Kinshasa, including respect for Congo’s territorial integrity, the disarmament of armed factions, and broader efforts to establish lasting peace in the region. The deal also outlines a ceasefire between the respective armed forces.
Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, who represented Kinshasa at the signing, hailed the agreement as both a diplomatic win and “a triumph for the Congolese people.”
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the deal reaffirms both sides' commitment to permanently and verifiably halt state support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and affiliated armed groups.
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