The truce, facilitated by the State of Qatar, was announced on April 23, 2025, following constructive peace talks in Doha. It comes just weeks after a surprise meeting in Qatar between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekediâ€"an encounter that followed a prolonged diplomatic stalemate.
'This joint declaration between the DRC government and the AFC/M23, under the aegis of Qatar, constitutes an importantâ€"even decisiveâ€"step towards lasting peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, provided that it is implemented in good faith,' Nduhungirehe said in a statement.
Rwanda has consistently denied Kinshasa's accusations that it supports the M23 rebellion, which has seized significant territory across North and South Kivu provinces. Kigali maintains that its main security concern lies with the continued presence of the FDLR militia inside Congolese territory. The group comprises remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled into the DRC.
The FDLR, which Rwanda considers a serious security threat, has long been accused of collaborating with the Congolese armed forces in operations against the M23. Kigali has repeatedly urged Kinshasa and international stakeholders to address the FDLR issue as part of any lasting peace settlement in the region.
The April agreement sees both the DRC government and the AFC/M23 reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities and the rejection of hate speech and intimidation. The declaration also calls on local communities to support peace efforts and commits both sides to dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of the crisis.
'This momentum for peace in the region includes other initiatives underway in this month of April 2025, in which Rwanda is fully engaged,' Nduhungirehe added.
Multiple regional initiatives, including those spearheaded by the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU), had previously attempted to mediate the standoff between Kigali and Kinshasa, with little success. The Qatari-brokered talks now mark a turning point, not just for DRC and Rwanda, but for broader stability in the Great Lakes region.
Whether the commitments outlined in the declaration will hold remains to be seen.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
