Hope for Peace in Eastern Congo

In a significant step toward ending years of violence in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group are expected to sign a peace declaration this week. The agreement, brokered with the help of regional and international mediators, could mark a turning point in a conflict that has displaced over one million people and destabilized the broader Great Lakes region.

According to officials familiar with the negotiations, the peace declaration includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal of M23 fighters from occupied territories and a commitment to disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs. In exchange, the DRC government has agreed to release certain political prisoners and consider localized governance reforms in North Kivu, the epicenter of M23 activity.

“The road has been long and painful,” said a Congolese official close to the talks. “But we are cautiously optimistic that this declaration will lay the groundwork for sustainable peace.”

The M23 rebellion, initially launched in 2012 by former members of the Congolese army who claimed the government had failed to honor earlier peace agreements, reemerged in late 2021. Since then, the group has seized key towns in North Kivu, drawing condemnation from Kinshasa and increasing tensions with neighboring Rwanda, which the DRC has long accused of supporting the rebels—an allegation Kigali has denied.

The conflict has strained humanitarian resources and drawn in regional actors, including the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), all of whom have backed peace talks in recent months.

The upcoming peace declaration is set to be signed in Luanda, Angola, under the mediation of Angolan President João Lourenço, who has played a central role in facilitating talks between the two sides. Observers from the UN and AU are expected to witness the signing and help oversee implementation.

“This is a fragile but hopeful moment,” said Bintou Keita, head of the UN stabilization mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). “Peace will require continued engagement, transparency, and above all, accountability for past abuses.”

Despite the breakthrough, observers caution that deep-rooted issues remain unresolved. Ethnic tensions, competition over natural resources and distrust between local communities and state institutions continue to fuel instability. Some fear that splinter groups or unaccounted foreign actors could derail the peace process.

Civil society leaders have also urged the government to include displaced populations, victims’ groups, and women’s organizations in post-agreement planning to ensure an inclusive and durable peace.

“This deal cannot just be about high-level signatures,” said Monique Kashama, a peace activist in Goma. “It must reach the people who have suffered the most.”

If implemented effectively, the declaration could offer a framework for resolving one of Africa’s longest-running and most complex conflicts. For now, cautious optimism reigns.

Both sides are expected to officially sign the agreement later this week, with ceremonies broadcast nationally and regionally as a symbol of each side’s commitment to a new chapter of peace.

Extemp Analysis by: Ty Tan

It’s nice to remain optimistic in conflict zones and areas of instability. Yet, a hint of realism is necessary in understanding the reality behind conflicts.

Question: Will the new peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda lead to a true peace?

AGD: A heart story of some kind is perfect here, as the issue between the DRC and Rwanda is long running and has impacted so many lives. Connect with the audience through a story that connects.

Background: The background for this conflict could be an entire paper, but to be concise, you should focus on what has sparked the recent conflict, the hope for the new peace deal, and the concerns.

1. What has sparked M23 since 2021 to begin the current fighting

2. The brokering of a new peace deal, soon to be signed

3. The persistent underlying issues that could prevent this peace deal from guaranteeing a brokered peace

Answer: I think the answer is clearly no, though yes is also very powerful.

No, because this new peace deal isn’t credible enough to bring about peace.

1. Lack of DDR credibility

2. Ethnic Division

3. Continued Rwandan Interests

Analysis + Concluding Thoughts

This conflict is very deep and your points could be 20+ things, I just picked the simplest three. The first point would describe how DDR hasn’t worked in the DRC before, and how the insurgent actors in the region won’t credibly put down their weapons and instead perpetuate violence. The second point is straightforward, as the peace settlement has nothing to do with ending long-standing ethnic tensions. The last point relies upon Kigali’s underlying interests in the DRC (mineral-wealth), and how they are unlikely to pull away at a time when the DRC is vulnerable to extraction. 

This question can be answered in so many ways, so I recommend you read a lot on the DRC and truly understand the conflict, as it always comes up in extemp.

Happy extemping!

Read More Here:

• Sonia Rolley and Stanis Bujakera, Reuters

• Chinedu Asadu, AP

• The Associated Press, NPR

• Robbie Corey-Boulet, SRN