The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda held peace talks over the conflict between the government of the former and M23 rebels, leading to the prospect of a lasting peace. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, the leaders of the two countries — President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda — talked to each other over the conflict in DR Congo mediated by Qatar and called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the eastern region. This is a promising step and may help end the conflict in the DR Congo especially between the government and the rebel group. But how much the conflicts in DR Congo will end remains unclear.
There are mechanism-based and other challenges to the ceasefire between the government and the March 23 Movement and ending the years-long armed conflicts that have intensified in recent months in the eastern region, where the authorities say around 7,000 people have been killed since January. The lack of an implementation plan and binding measures in the ceasefire calls, rendered the first ceasefire agreement since the renewed conflict that started in December 2024, amidst the unwillingness of the rebels to hold talks in Angola are crucial challenges that can make the Doha peace initiative uncertain. Among others, Rwanda is not the final decision maker on all aspects of the rebel alliance, the Alliance Fleuve Congo, in which the M23 is a major force.
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But the strengthened role and commitment of Rwanda, a strong supporter of the M23, is vital for the ceasefire, along with ending the conflicts that have led to one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the world with the displacement of more than 7 million people, with a lasting solution. Pertinently saying, DR Congo accuses the Rwandan government of arming the M23, which emerged in 2012, and sending support to it in the ongoing conflict which Rwanda denies. But multiple sources make it — more convincingly — clear that Rwanda provides different sorts of support such as military assistance, personnel support, logistical aid and political backing. Rwanda consequently can be more effective than any other party in the ceasefire in DR Congo.
But whether there will be lasting peace with the ceasefire between the government and the M23, which has waged a renewed rebellion against the government since 2022, remains uncertain, even if the ceasefire call is implemented. Notably, there are various grievances including the marginalization and discrimination of the ethnic Tutsi minority, the government’s abuses and the lack of basic services in the eastern region that need to be addressed to end the conflict and reach a lasting peace. A ceasefire alone will also not end the forced recruitment of child soldiers, killings and attacks on civilians by the M23. Unless the grievances and concerns are addressed, it is difficult to reach a lasting peace between the parties.
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While peace talks between DR Congo and Rwanda are needed to address the concerns between these two countries, direct peace talks between the government of DR Congo and the rebel group are vital to address various concerns and grievances. Without a peace agreement that addresses the reasoned grievances, fighting will re-emerge in the future too— at least at reduced levels. Optimistically saying, though DR Congo was unwilling to hold direct talks with the M23 in the past, it has recently shown a willingness to engage the armed group in direct negotiations. But efforts are vital to hold direct talks between the parties.
But ending the armed conflicts is vital with other rebel groups and clans-affiliated armed groups to reach a lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Notably, there are around one hundred armed groups in DR Congo. For this, direct peace talks between the government of DR Congo and other rebel groups are also vital. But a long-term plan is vital and will help reach a lasting peace with all rebel groups in DR Congo.
