In what many are calling a bold step toward ending decades of bloodshed, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have officially launched their joint oversight committee in Washington. The meeting, held Thursday, marks the first real action since the two countries signed a landmark peace accord on June 27, 2025.
Brokered by the United States under former President Donald Trump, and supported by Qatar and the African Union, the deal promised to reduce long-standing tensions in eastern DRC—a region plagued by violence but rich in valuable minerals like cobalt, gold, and lithium.
Promises Made, But Yet to Be Kept
As part of the agreement, Rwanda committed to pulling out its troops from eastern Congo within 90 days. Both nations also agreed to set up a shared security mechanism within 30 days to track withdrawals and ease tensions. But weeks later, not a single troop has moved. The joint security team hasn’t met, and military operations against the FDLR—a Rwandan rebel group—haven’t stopped.
This slow start is sparking concern among observers, who fear that without visible progress, the fragile trust built by the accord could quickly unravel.
Washington Urges Patience
Still, the U.S. government insists the process is alive and well. Massad Boulos, senior Africa adviser to the current U.S. president, told reporters that while the timeline has slipped, the overall direction is positive. He promised a Security Committee meeting was on the horizon and emphasized that not every milestone has a strict deadline.
“From April till now, we’ve seen movement. It’s not perfect, but the wheels are turning,” he said.
Peace Feels Distant in Eastern DRC
Yet, thousands of miles away from Washington’s diplomacy, the reality on the ground is stark. Armed groups like M23 and Wazalendo are reportedly digging in deeper, entrenching their presence across eastern Congo. Locals fear that if promises of troop withdrawal and joint security don’t materialize soon, the region may slip further into chaos.
For now, hope lingers—but it’s fragile. The world is watching to see whether this ambitious peace plan will move beyond words and into real action before the chance to end one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts slips away again.
