Planned peace talks between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Angola were canceled on Sunday, dampening hopes for an agreement to address the ongoing M23 insurgency that has displaced over 1.9 million people.
The meeting, part of long-standing efforts to reduce tensions between the neighbors, was expected to yield a peace deal to de-escalate the nearly three-year conflict. The standoff has further destabilized eastern Congo, fueling fears of a broader Great Lakes region conflict reminiscent of wars from 1996 to 2003 that claimed millions of lives.
Congo’s presidency blamed Rwanda for the collapse of the talks, accusing Kigali of making its participation conditional on Congo holding direct negotiations with M23 rebels—an approach Kinshasa rejects.
“The cancellation of this tripartite is caused by the refusal of the Rwandan delegation to take part,” said a statement from Congo’s presidency.
Rwanda’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, cited the lack of consensus as the reason for its withdrawal, suggesting the delay would allow Congo time to directly engage with M23.
The peace plan on the table had proposed that Rwanda dismantle its “defensive measures” in exchange for Congo targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu rebel group accused of attacks on Tutsis in both countries.
Congo, the United Nations, and other observers accuse Rwanda of backing M23 rebels in North Kivu province by supplying them with troops and weapons—a charge Rwanda denies, maintaining it has only acted defensively. Kigali has also accused Congo of collaborating with FDLR militants.
A U.N. report earlier this year found evidence of 3,000–4,000 Rwandan troops operating in Congo with significant influence over M23 activities.
Jason Stearns, a Congo analyst at Simon Fraser University, said more international pressure is needed to compel Rwanda to de-escalate.
“So far, the United States has led in pressuring Rwanda, but with its own political transition underway, there’s little momentum to hold Rwanda accountable,” he warned.
