The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda held their first talks after signing a historic peace deal to end decades of deadly conflict in eastern Congo. The mineral-rich region, bordering Rwanda, has suffered violence for over thirty years, claiming thousands of lives and displacing hundreds of thousands.
On Thursday, representatives from both countries met in Washington, the site of their June 27 peace agreement, officials confirmed Friday. The African Union and United Nations hailed the deal as a milestone, following many broken truces and ceasefires in the troubled region.
The agreement calls for respect of territorial integrity and an end to hostilities in eastern DRC, but key details remain vague. Violence surged earlier this year with the M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, capturing Goma in January and Bukavu in February.
The Congolese government and UN estimate thousands have died and a dire humanitarian crisis has worsened amid the fighting. Since February, frontlines have stabilized, yet clashes persist between M23 and pro-Kinshasa militias in ongoing guerrilla warfare.
Earlier this month, M23 and Kinshasa signed a declaration in Qatar pledging a permanent ceasefire, signaling fragile hope. Rwanda denies military support to M23, citing longstanding security threats from armed groups like the FDLR, linked to 1994 genocide atrocities.
The DRC is the world’s top cobalt producer, also rich in gold and coltan, essential for modern electronics. This peace process marks a cautious step toward healing wounds carved deep by years of conflict in Africa’s heartland.
