After a long-lasting conflict, hope for a peaceful settlement emerges in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite previous attempts at mitigation and signed peace agreements, the conflict has persisted and spread to South Kivu, leaving civilians at a breaking point.
The two sides, M23 rebels and the Congolese government, recently announced that they have agreed to ease aid deliveries and release prisoners, following talks in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar and Togo, as the African Union mediator. Discussions in Montreux brought together representatives from the DRC government and from the AFC-M23 movement.
According to the joint statement of April 19th, both Parties involved agreed on the importance of ensuring life-saving humanitarian assistance for the people of eastern DRC. The goal of the agreement is to facilitate rapid and safe humanitarian aid by agreeing to “refrain from any action that would undermine the principled delivery of humanitarian assistance within the territories impacted”. They also committed not to target innocent civilians.
Furthermore, it was concluded that the two sides would release prisoners within 10 days as part of ongoing efforts to build trust. The US-brokered statement foresees the Parties to facilitate the transport of medical supplies and healthcare facilities as well as allowing the free movement of humanitarian personnel and convoys.
Alongside these commitments, both Parties signed a memorandum of understanding on ceasefire verification mechanisms to begin conducting surveillance on the implementation of the ceasefire.
In 2025, an agreement was signed between Rwanda and the DRC in Washington, D.C., calling for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with the end of Congolese support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda militia (FDLR). Shortly after, the conflict resumed and the rebel group took control of the city of Uvira, bordering Burundi. Considering the failed attempts to create peaceful relations, the success of this agreement remains questionable.
The M23 (March 23rd Movement) is an armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and responsible for serious violations of international law. UN reports, and various Western governments claim the rebel group is militarily supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces.
After the end of the Second Congo War in 2006, Rwandan militants split into groups between those who remained in the DRC and those who returned to Rwanda. The National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) was then created by Rwandan rebels that stayed in the DRC. The group was established by Laurent Nkunda, a former Tutsi rebel. The CNDP signed a peace accord with the Congolese government on March 23rd, 2009, transforming the CNDP into a political party and integrating Congolese fighters from the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). For the Congolese government, this arrangement was considered a temporary solution to ongoing instabilities in the eastern region of the country. The settlement also called for the reintegration of refugees and CNDP personnel into the government. However, when the group broke down in 2012, deserting fighters created the M23, named after the agreement made in 2009, citing the government’s failure to uphold the peace accord. Later, a UN report found that Rwanda commanded the M23 rebel group during operations to take control of Goma, leading Rwanda to cease its support and the military group to announce a ceasefire. However, in 2017, the M23 remnants resumed their insurgency, once again believed to be supported by Rwandan forces. Since 2021, the rebel group mainly operates in eastern RDC, in the region of North Kivu, boarding Rwanda and Uganda.
This conflict results from years of ongoing tensions in the region, not only involving internal forces but also foreign interference. M23, claiming to protect the Tusti community, is believed to be supported by Rwanda, which sees a threat in the presence of the Hutu militia FDLR in Congo, related to the 1994 genocide. Despite overwhelming evidence, notably the fact that the previous peace accord was signed between Rwanda and the DRC and not with M23, Rwandan authorities continue to deny their involvement with the group, in fear of international sanctions.
According to UN reports and investigations, the Rwandan-backed paramilitary group is responsible for committing serious violations of international law, such as the targeting of women and children, sexual violence, abduction, forced displacements, and mass killings of civilians. In addition, the movement has carried out extensive recruitment campaigns across the country.
Given that the region is also a strategic territory rich in minerals, gold, and coltan, several groups have operated in the region for over 30 years, leading to devastating consequences. Once again, Rwanda is accused of using the conflict to plunder minerals and M23 of seizing major mining areas. Ultimately, these tensions stem from decades of ethnic conflict, dating back to the Rwandan genocide, when Hutu communities fled the country after Paul Kagame’s insurgency, to settle across the border, in DR Congo. One of the responsible groups for the genocide, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda is still present in the country, posing a threat to Tusti communities and M23 rebels.
By Laura Jacson
Sources
The Journal 