December 2025

COGGS Contents Team |

UPON REACHING WHITE HOUSE,  Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi is set to sign a deal with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, aimed at securing peace in eastern Congo on December 4, 2025. The ongoing peace-talks  between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda represent a critically high-impact, yet fragile moment in the region’s decades-long conflict. While facilitated by global powers and driven by strategic economic interests, the viability of the deal is currently undercut by persistent military hostilities, deep seated animosity,  mutual distrust, and unresolved conditionalities concerning armed groups and troop withdrawals. The  Washington-brokered peace initiative, also involving Qatar, has been characterized by powerful geopolitical and economic motivations that arguably give this particular attempt at reconciliation more global weight than efforts made earlier.

Democratic Republic of Congo, the second-largest country on the continent is immensely rich in critical minerals ranging from cobalt, gold, copper, and coltan. These elements  highly are essential for the global production of electronic goods, electric cars, solar panels, and AI data farms. Needless to say,  the US has commercial interests in DRC. 

 

The peace deal, which aims to give the US increased access to Congolese natural resources, is seen as a means to incentivize US investment in the country. On the other hand, the US effort as a strategic move to push back against China’s fast march in the mineral market across Africa.

The economic dimension has generated significant controversy, particularly regarding Europe. DRC has accused  European Union of demonstrating a “double standard” by making a 2024 minerals deal with Rwanda. This deal was inked aiming at boosting Europe’s supply of raw materials for hi-tech industries, such as electric car batteries and microchips. The DRC Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, argued the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda is “void of any credibility” because Rwanda has been accused of siphoning off Congolese resources extracted through brutal conditions of forced labour, including child labour for the purpose of export. The EU has imposed sanctions on certain individuals and a Rwandan gold refiner for fueling the conflict and violating DRC territory, yet has been urged by the DRC to levy much stronger sanctions, similar to those imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The Peace Framework

The peace accord was initially scheduled to be signed by the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda in Washington DC on June 27th, 2025 following three days of talks between delegates. The draft of the peace deal includes specific language on the prohibition of hostilities, respect for territorial integrity, and the disarmament of armed groups. The treaty further contains provisions for the return of refugees with the support of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, and increasing humanitarian aid. A final agreement will be signed by the Presidents of both nations in Washington. Despite subsequent accusations of delay, the DRC presidency scheduled the signing of the final peace deal for December 4th in the US capital. In addition to the US, Qatar, and the African Union are slated to supervise the process, while UN-sponsored peacekeepers are expected to continue their mission to protect civilians.

Despite the official signing of the agreement in June by the DRC’s chief diplomat, the implementation has faltered due to a cycle of mutual recrimination, military activity, and some conditional demands.

 

Rwanda’s Position and Demands

Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused the DRC of shelving the signing of the US-mediated peace deal by setting ‘different conditions’ since the June agreement. Rwanda maintains that it will only withdraw its troops from Eastern DRC after the FDLR ( one of the largest foreign armed groups operating in the territory of the DRC) militia is disarmed. Rwanda accuses the DRC of continuing to support the FDLR (a militia  group formed in 2000 by members of ex-FAR and Interahamwe who were responsible for Rwandan genocide). While the DRC Foreign Minister acknowledged that some individuals within the Congolese military (FARDC) might support the FDLR, she asserted that this is not ‘state policy,’ in contrast to the alleged presence of about 4,000 Rwandan troops on DRC sovereign territory, which the DRC considers a blatant state policy violation.

DRC’s Position and Accusations

The DRC Minister of Communication, Patrick Muaya, dismissed the accusation of delay as false and instead blamed Rwanda for refusing to pull its troops out of Eastern DRC. The DRC accuses the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) of fighting alongside the M23 rebels. A group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside M23 and that the Rwandan military was in ‘de facto control of M23 operations’. The M23 rebels have reportedly seized swathes of DRC territory, several major cities, and are accused of establishing and consolidating a parallel administration.

Challenges to Implementation and Concerns over Justice

The  US and Qatar brokered peace process faces significant skepticism and operational challenges and it further  reflects the failure of many previous attempts at reconciliation where agreements were simply ignored on the battlefield.

Fights are still going in Eastern DRC despite the peace agreement framework. The hostilities have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, claiming thousands of lives since 2021 and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. According to the UN, over 7.8 million people are internally displaced in the Eastern DRC region.

M23 Non-Compliance and Impunity:

A crucial challenge is the commitment of the M23. DRC demands the full restoration of state authority and will not accept a prolonged presence of the force. M23 is accused of blocking a UN verification team from operating effectively in occupied areas, hindering investigations into human rights abuses. Furthermore, negotiations over a prisoner swap are stalled because the DRC government refuses to mistake the swap process with impunity for M23 members who committed atrocities like massacres, raping, and looting. DRC maintains that sustainable peace cannot be built on a foundation of impunity.

DRC Foreign Minister has voiced doubt regarding Rwanda’s sincerity, noting that Rwanda still has thousands of troops illegally on DRC territory, ‘looting,’ ‘killing,’ and ‘raping’. She expressed greater trust in the levers and pressure points of the mediators US and Qatar to ensure accountability, noting that a lack of accountability caused previous deals to fail.

The peace talks agreement, despite being termed as historic, has been met with skepticism within DRC, with a former Congolese president calling it ‘nothing more than a trade agreement.’ Furthermore, there is concern that if the process fails to include nationwide buy-in, particularly from local groups, and is confined to deals among political elites, it will not work effectively, as past deals have led to corruption and continued instability. The two presidents presence at White House will reshape the regional politics. Under the pressure, it is expected the two nations will abide by the deal and have lasting impacts in Africa, a sanctuary of armed rebels and reformers.