The DRC and Rwanda Finally Pledge to Peace

April 28th, 2025

Lindsey Zhao

Since 1996, conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, or Congo) has claimed roughly six million lives. Ethnic tensions linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide have created one of the most complex—and devastating—humanitarian crises in the world. When terrorist group M23 re-emerged after five years of inactivity, they launched a horrific campaign of violence across eastern DRC, starting in March 2022, that quickly displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Now, after three years of conflict and one more chapter in the DRC’s long struggle for peace, Rwanda and the DRC’s foreign ministers have officially signed an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty. Overseen by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and signed in Washington, this pledge to work towards a peace deal is one monumental step forward towards peace in the region. The pledge came two days after Qatar negotiated a surprising ceasefire between the two nations. However, reports of clashes continue in the DRC, underlining the fragility of any truce.

The long history of conflict in the Congo is incredibly complex, so here is a (kind of) brief timeline of what’s been going on.

1994: Genocide of moderate Hutus and ethnic Tutsis by Hutu extremists in Rwanda causes millions of Hutus to flee into neighboring DRC. Rwanda’s genocidal government is overthrown by Tutsi rebels led by future Rwandan president Paul Kagame. Some extremists flee with the refugees and form militias in the DRC, which is led by dictator Joseph Mobutu.

1996-2006: First and Second Congo Wars: Uganda, Rwanda, and Angola (who form an anti-Mobutu coalition) invade the DRC to combat Hutu extremists setting up bases in the country, with numerous other regional countries getting involved later. Eventually, peace accords are signed in 2003 and the DRC holds their first democratic elections in over 40 years in 2006.

November 2012: M23 rebels split off from the CNDP (a rogue rebel group that never signed the peace agreements ending the Second Congo War) after a March 23, 2009 peace deal is signed to incorporate the CNDP with the national army. They capture Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC. A UN mission successfully pushes them out.

2022: M23 sees a resurgence in violent operations in March. In response, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi asks for the East African Community (EAC) to send an intervention force that deploys in August. Ensuing fighting displaces 100,000 people.

Early 2023: Tensions rise* and violence worsens, as the DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, an accusation supported by UN investigators, and Rwanda shoots down a DRC fighter jet.

*Note: Many countries, including China and the US, have a large stake in the conflict because of rich mineral deposits in eastern Congo, which have been accused of fueling disputes in the region.

Late 2023: EAC and MONUSCO begin the process of withdrawing their troops after violence protests. 6.9 million people are displaced.

2024: Several ceasefire attempts fall apart, Tshisekedi thwarts a coup, and more troops are deployed. This crisis has evolved into one of the world’s largest humanitarian and security crises.

January 2025: M23 rebels capture the critical city of Goma, cutting off humanitarian trade routes and forcing thousands to flee. They also capture Bukavu, a transport hub, in eastern DRC. Goma and Bukavu are the two largest cities in eastern DRC.

April 2025: A joint Rwanda-DRC pledge to work towards a peace deal is signed, a promising step in the right direction after a spike in violence in early 2025.

Given the poor relations between Rwanda and the DRC, the fact that the meeting happened at all, let alone resulted in any signed documents, is a sign of serious progress. The DRC hopes to obtain US investment in the mineral-rich deposits in the region in exchange for security guarantees, but that can only happen if it’s secure enough for US companies to operate safely. The DRC is known for being the largest producer of cobalt, used to make lithium-ion batteries for EVs and smartphones, along with large reserves of diamonds, gold, and copper. During the meeting, Rwandan foreign minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner agreed to draft a peace treaty by May 2 and stop military support for armed groups.

Extemp Analysis by Lindsey Zhao

Q: What are the hurdles for the implementation of the recent peace deal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

AGD: Making a joke is probably not the best idea here, so a narrative or fact about the deal may do well to set the mood.

B: Do a better job of shortening your explanation of the current conflict than I did…also explain what the current “peace deal” is: including their promises to draft a peace treaty by May 2, promise of US mineral investment, promise of respecting each others’ sovereignty and stopping aid to armed forces, etc.

For each point, I would address a specific part of the pledge Rwanda and the Congo made and what might be difficult about enforcing the promise; for example, you could talk about their promise to draft a peace treaty by May 2 and how continuing disagreements over borders, rebel groups, etc will make sure they can’t get a draft together in such a short timeframe.