Rwanda Delays Peace Deal with DRC, Escalates Fears of Regional War
Rwanda has delayed signing a long-anticipated peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), originally scheduled for June 27, 2025, raising fresh concerns over regional stability in Central Africa.
The deal, drafted in Washington with U.S. mediation, was designed to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group has intensified its attacks in recent months.
The proposed agreement included commitments to mutual territorial respect, disarmament of non-state actors, and a joint regional security framework. However, Rwanda’s last-minute hesitation has triggered sharp criticism from Congolese officials and stoked further mistrust between the neighboring countries.
According to diplomats familiar with the negotiations, Rwanda is demanding stronger protections against armed Hutu militias operating from Congolese territory, whom Kigali considers a longstanding security threat.
The DRC, on the other hand, accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels in a bid to gain control of eastern Congo’s mineral-rich zones. Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who played a central role in brokering the draft deal, had earlier expressed optimism that a resolution would attract major Western investments into Congo’s valuable cobalt and lithium sectors.
A Reuters report revealed that Rwanda failed to respond to the final draft submitted last week, prompting frustration from Kinshasa.
“They are dragging their feet at a critical moment,” said one senior Congolese official. “This delay puts the entire region at greater risk.”
Rwanda’s move comes on the heels of its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) following disagreements over its involvement in the DRC conflict. Meanwhile, regional dynamics continue to shift. Burundi has sent troops to support the Congolese military, and the rebel group M23 recently captured the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, displacing over 500,000 civilians.
With tensions mounting, analysts warn of a potential broader regional war if diplomacy fails.
Negotiations are expected to resume in Qatar, though no new date has been announced.
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