End Of DRC-AFC/M23 And Rwanda Conflict 2022-2025

Even though The Democratic Republic of Congo continue to accuse Rwanda in violating peace agreement signed in Washington DC, following the take over and control of Uvira in South Kivu by AFC/M23, a key commercial and transport hub on the shores of Lake Tanganyika near the Burundi border.

Recently, The AFC/M23 movement has announced a unilateral withdrawal of its forces from Uvira, a move it referred to as a major confidence-building step aimed at advancing the Doha Peace Process and achieving a lasting solution to the conflict in eastern DR Congo.

In a statement released on December 15, AFC/M23 said the decision follows “significant progress” under the Doha Peace Process, including the signing of the Doha Framework Agreement on November 15, 2025.

Previously many steps have been made, As Declaration of principles signed in Washington DC  April 2025 in USA between Rwanda and DRC, and declaration of principles signed in DOHA Qatar  July 2025 between DRC and AFC/M23 movement, observed by African union representative and region accords of Nairobi and Luanda processes opens the door to an agreement that will bring lasting peace in Eastern DRC and the great lakes region.

The ministerial signing of the peace agreement marks a historical  milestone in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for DRC-Rwanda and broader great lakes region of Africa.

The agreement reflects on sustained negotiations led by USA.

The discussions addressed a longstand issues of governance, security and economic integration and laid the foundation for comprehensive agreement that confronts the root causes of conflict.

The declaration of principles signed both in Washington DC and Doha came after a conflict which began between DRC and Rwanda in 2022 after narratives that Rwandan forces entered the country to provide a military support to the AFCM23 rebel group, including fighting alongside them against the DRC military (FARDC) and pro-government militias.

Nduhungirehe and Kayikwamba in peace agreement/Photo internet

A peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC was signed on 27 June 2025, though as of December 2025 the implementation of the agreement has stalled.

Rwanda -DRC crisis started since the second Congo war, the Eastern provinces of the DRC have been the site of an ongoing insurgency by various rebel groups, mostly notably the AFCM23 movement in north kivu and it's Twirwaneho affiliate in south kivu.

The current situation of conflict is related to the an ongoing campaign that began in march 2022 by the AFC/M23 movement, which DRC,UN, USA and other western countries accuse Rwanda of not only by supporting but actively fighting for the insurgents.

However, Rwanda and AFC/M23 have also accused DRC of working together with FDLR an ethnic Hutu paramilitary group that took part in the Rwandan Genocide against Tutsi in 1994.

Both the DRC and Rwanda deny, they support on FDLR and AFCM23 respectively.

Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame dismisses reports suggesting his country’s support for M23 rebels.

President Kagame addressing Media/Photo internet

Kagame told reporters, January 2025 in the capital Kigali that Rwanda has nothing to do with the rebel group and it does not make sense to blame Rwanda for the conflict in the DR Congo.

“These leaders of M23 and the majority of their fighters came from Uganda, where they had been refugees,” he said, adding that M23 rebels are not Rwandans but speak the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda.

Contrary to research and reports made by UN experts and human right watch that confirm both sides allegations.

The conflict turned into a complex equation when Burundi got involved.

Burundi which has accused Rwanda at first, for having orchestrating a 2015 coup attempt, due to bilateral relations with DRC regarding to security deployed troops in Eastern DRC to assist DRC forces (FARDC) against the AFC/M23 offensive. Something that created tensions between Rwanda and Burundi that latter led to closure of the boarders. There were many as 12000 Burundian troops in Eastern DRC until early February 2025 when the majority withdrew leaving around 3000 fighting alongside DRC forces before the fall of Goma the capital of north  kivu to the AFC/M23 rebels .

President Ndayishimiye talking to BBC/Photo internet

Burundi's president has told the BBC that he has seen "credible intelligence" that Rwanda plans to attack his country alongside Red Tabara a rebel group that fights against his Government through south kivu.

Rwanda has also denied links to the resurgent Red Tabara rebel group, which President Evariste Ndayishimiye says is a proxy force similar to the M23 and is being supported by Rwanda to destabilize Burundi.

"Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters,” said Ndayishimiye, adding Burundi has no plan to attack Rwanda and it wants to resolve the problem through dialogue.

The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission has maintained that it is not involved in the conflict apart from its role in defending the region from militants. But has been accused by Rwanda of taking sides due to its cooperation with the DRC armed forces and pro-government militias such as wazalendo and FDLR.

Former Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, recently announced that MONUSCO has gone beyond observing the FDLR, working with it in various activities.

James Kabarebe/Photo Internet

“Not just observing but also trading. They trade coal, they trade minerals, they set up roadblocks, they collect taxes, they live together, they eat in bars. These are things that were known, the international community never did anything.” He said

Meanwhile, the DRC government has also asked MONUSCO peacekeepers to leave the DRC due to its failure to protect civilians from negative armed groups.

After the escalation of kivu conflict 2022, since M23 first occupied the city of Goma in 2012, two efforts at peace negotiations were organized between the DRC and Rwanda.

One hosted by Kenya in 2022. the Nairobi peace process  launched by EAC in April 2022 under former president of Kenya Uhuru kenyata mediation, focused on facilitating dialogue between DRC government and various armed groups operating in the Eastern DRC

Whereas the Luanda processes launched in 2024 concentrated on the diplomatic and security tensions between Rwanda and DRC under Angolan president Joao Lourenco's mediation and by 30th July 2024,a permanent ceasefire was agreed between DRC and AFC/M23.

In December 2024 an EAC summit recommended integrating the two initiatives. By February 2025 a joint summit of EAC and SADC leaders agreed to formally merge the Nairobi and Luanda peace process.

in August 2025, during an AU led meeting in Nairobi, EAC and SADC countries reaffirmed their commitment to the new unified, (African led process). In line with the African union mandate to promote peace security and stability in the continent.

The Bureau of the assembly of African union held it's virtual meeting on April 2025

The Bureau of the assembly of AU heads of states and government agreed that H.E president FAURE ESSOZIMNA GNASSINGBE as mediator of DRC conflict.

Gnassingbé and his foreign minister conducted a series of diplomatic visits and meetings in Kinshasa and Kigali to lay the groundwork for a potential mediation.

President Gnassingbé /Photo Internet

Major task for Gnassingbé is to reconcile the stalled Nairobi and Luanda peace processes.

Gnassingbé has been active in meeting with key figures in the region. In April 2025, he held talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to discuss regional security.

Due to challenges of The diplomatic environment with multiple mediation initiatives overlapping. In January 2025 the rebels resumed fighting’s and  carried out a successful offensive on Goma the capital of the north kivu province displacing over 400,000 people and causing the DRC to cut off its diplomatic ties with Rwanda.

DRC government called Rwanda's military support for the rebels as a declaration of war.

According to the UN report in December 2024 estimated that RDF had up to 4000 troops in DRC and this increased to as much as 12000 by March 2025.

The fall of Goma after several days of fighting AFC/M23 continued its advance into the rest of North kivu and into south kivu during February capturing the latter capital of Bukavu and all other parts.

The African union has called on AFCM23 to withdraw from occupied territories.

United Nations security council adopted a resolution 2773 that also called on Rwanda to end its support for AFCM23.

At a surprise meeting in Doha in March 2025, the Congolese and Rwandan presidents engaged in direct discussions for the first time since the M23 took over the cities of Goma and Bukavu in eastern DRC earlier this year.

Following negotiations in June 2025, The Washington deal which builds on the Luanda and Doha processes. brokered by US in collaboration with Qatar and Africa Union representative between Rwanda and DRC,

The final agreement consists of Rwanda withdrawing its troops/ defensive measures and DRC ending its support for the FDLR

On June 18 2025 a technical team from DRC and Rwanda initiated the text of peace agreement witnessed by US, building on the declaration of principles signed on April 2025,

The agreement includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and prohibition of hostilities, Disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of armed groups ,facilitation of return of external refugees from neighboring countries and internally displaced people as well as humatarian access and region economic integration framework building on existing efforts such as ICGLR,COMESA EAC that provides expanded foreign trade.

Declaration of principles specifically on minerals resources as main core of the problem, a significant framework for economic and mineral resources corporation was established as part of the broader peace agreement signed between Rwanda and DRC in 2025.

President Trump in DRC-Rwanda peace agreement/Photo internet

President Donald Trump has supported and posted it on Truth Social as  “A Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World.” Trump has emphasized the economic and strategic stakes in stabilizing mineral-rich regions.

This was an addendum to the main peace deal  enhancing transparency and cross boarder trade.

It was developed to end decades of conflict in the great lake’s region with a significant US investment promised in return for peace.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that ending the war is not just about peace and saving lives, but also about "making people live, making people now have dreams and hopes for a better life and [economic] prosperity, economic opportunities, and bringing families back together."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio /Photo internet

"Those things are not possible when there is war and conflict," he said, adding, "There is still a lot to do." He also said that the United States wants to do business with these partners.

Both the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation for the valuable efforts of the US and Qatar as partners in advancing peace resolutions.

Rwandan foreign Minister Nduhungirehe Olivier also called these "historical agreements," saying that "there is still " a lot of uncertainty in our region and elsewhere because there are many previous agreements that have not been implemented" and that "the road ahead will not be easy."

Rwandan foreign Minister Nduhungirehe Olivier/Photo internet

"But with the continued support of the United States and other partners, we believe that significant progress has been made," he added. "Rwanda stands ready to work with the DRC to achieve our shared commitments."

DRC Foreign Minister Kayikwamba Wagner said; "the agreement opened "a new phase, which requires not only our commitments, but also the courage to deliver on them."

DRC Foreign Minister Kayikwamba Wagner/Photo internet

"Those who have suffered the most [from the war] are looking to us," She said. "They expect this agreement to be respected and we cannot let them down."

She echoed a message recently conveyed to her by women in the east of the country, urging that this should not be a peace for the powerful, but a real peace that reaches all.

 April 25, 2025 signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., Massad Boulos a senior advisor for Africa noted that the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a witness "signifies the importance the United States places on resolving this conflict to ensure both countries and their people prosper".

He committed to working with both parties to reach a full agreement, calling the initial declaration a "first step toward pursuit of lasting peace". Boulos called the peace deal a "historic agreement" and highlighted the unique, comprehensive nature of the resolution.

On the other side AFC/M23 and DRC government conducted a separate talks under mediation of Qatar which also led to signing of a declaration of principles on 19 July 2025 in DOHA Qatar with the support from the US and Africa Union, intended as a road map towards a comprehensive peace deal to end the conflict in Eastern DRC.

AFC/M23 and DRC government Officials in DOHA Qatar signing/ Photo internet

Key provisions of the declaration of principles include, permanent ceasefire, Restoration of government Authority to return control of  M23 occupied areas, Return of internal Displaced people and refugees from neighboring states.

The declaration set timelines for implementing the initial agreement.

The Kinshasa statement was signed by Papy Mbuyi Kanguvu, who represented its delegation in the talks, while the M23 statement was signed by its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that the country was pleased to see “the cooperative efforts and this joint statement between the DRC and M23”.

In a message posted on the X website, al-Ansari said: “The State of Qatar encourages both parties to continue these talks in a constructive spirit, working towards agreements that are in line with the aspirations of the Congolese people for peace and development.”

In July 2025, Massad Boulos a senior US presidential advisor for Africa stated that the conflict in Congo had gone on for "more than three decades" and it was "about time to end it".

Massad Boulos a senior US presidential advisor for Africa/Photo internet

He expressed gratitude to Qatar for its "fundamental and pivotal role" in facilitating the agreement.

 Boulos stressed that there were "no magic solutions" to the conflict and that the process required ongoing effort.

Following the April 2025 Declaration of Principles between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, international bodies welcomed the agreement as a step toward peace, but also called for its full implementation and accountability. The declaration laid the groundwork for a broader Peace agreement signed in Washington in June 2025, with further negotiations between the DRC and the M23 rebel group taking place in Doha.

In a press statement following the April declaration, the ICGLR commended both countries for committing to resolve disputes through diplomatic means.

The ICGLR welcomed that the countries acknowledged legitimate security concerns along their border. The organization noted the countries' intention to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes in eastern DRC. The ICGLR expressed confidence that dialogue would advance within the frameworks of the merged Luanda-Nairobi peace process and the Doha talks.

The African Union (AU), through designated facilitators like Togo, has continued to be involved in the Joint Oversight Committee and other diplomatic efforts to support the peace process.

Following the July 2025 Doha Declaration of Principles between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group, UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the agreement as a significant step toward peace. He urged all parties to implement the commitments swiftly.

However as of October 2025 the implementation of the peace agreement has faced significant challenges and delays.    

including resistance from local actors and the risk of parallel conflicts.

 ‘’With each side blaming the other for renewed attacks.

Mediators has announced that new talks have resumed in October 2025 to review the implementation of the truce and peace.

Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi has called on his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to have “the courage” to work with him to make “peace among the brave” and end the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Felix Tshisekedi Speaking at the Global Gateway/photo internet

Speaking at the Global Gateway forum in Brussels October 2025, Tshisekedi said: “I call on those present here and the whole world  to launch an appeal for peace, to reach out to him and ask for this escalation to be stopped.”

President Kagame Paul Speaking at the Global Gateway/photo internet

Kagame was also participating in the event. He added “Today we are the only two who can stop this escalation,” he said, referring to the violence that continues despite a peace agreement signed in Washington at the end of June.

Agreement signed in Washington DC is now considered as a significant part of the broader diplomatic efforts

The goal is to move beyond the repeated failures of past peace initiatives.

A Story by Julius NGOGA