First, the joint declaration between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23, facilitated by Qatar, aimed at tackling the roots of the ongoing conflict.
Then came an even bigger breakthrough, as the United States successfully brokered the signing of the Declaration of Principles between Rwanda and the DRC, a bold step designed to cement lasting peace across the entire region.
But not everyone is applauding these historic efforts. Belgium, sensing its longtime grip over the region slipping, is showing clear discomfort.
Almost immediately after news of the U.S.-led agreement broke, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot rushed across Uganda, Burundi, and into Kinshasa, where he warned Congolese leaders to be "vigilant" about the Qatar and U.S. peace initiatives, a thinly disguised attempt to sow doubt and hesitation.
This reaction from Belgium should surprise no one familiar with its history. Since the colonial era, Brussels has treated the DRC like its private property, draining its riches while leaving behind division and chaos.
Belgium's notorious "Divide and Rule" policy carved deep fractures into the region, fractures it has quietly exploited ever since.
For decades, a broken, violent Eastern Congo opened the door to endless plunder, enriching a distant elite while Congolese communities were left in misery.
It's not the first time Prévot has acted as a roadblock to peace. Not long ago, he crisscrossed capitals around the world, lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda, not because Rwanda had waged an aggressive campaign, but because it raised legitimate security concerns stemming from instability in Eastern DRC.
Rwanda took measured steps to secure its borders while calling for a genuine resolution to the root causes of the conflict.
But instead of engaging in dialogue, Prévot used his platform to demonize Rwanda, projecting Belgium's old colonial arrogance onto a region struggling for peace.
In the end, the international community began to see through the smear campaign, realizing just how distorted and self-serving Belgium's position really is.
Today, with real peace on the horizon, and notably without Belgium at the helm, old colonial instincts are flaring up once again.
President Donald Trump's administration has thrown its full weight behind the peace effort, with Trump himself expressing hope that a new era of stability 'in the region' is finally within reach.
For Belgium, however, peace spells disaster. The chaos in DRC is not merely accidental; it has been a profitable condition. A stable Eastern Congo would close the door on the shadowy wealth flows that have long benefited European hands.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, who personally signed the Declaration of Principles on behalf of Rwanda, captured the spirit of this critical moment. He emphasized the importance of the "4 Ps": Peace, Partnership, Prosperity, and People.
These aren't just buzzwords; they reflect a genuine vision for regional transformation. This agreement isn't another symbolic handshake, it's a real roadmap, carefully constructed to address the deep-rooted political, security, and economic crises that have crippled Eastern DRC for far too long.
Yet instead of supporting that future, Belgium is once again clinging to its colonial past. Prévot's panicked tour through the region was less about diplomacy and more about damage control.
Belgium sees its influence waning, its old games exposed. And in a world where African nations are speaking for themselves and partnering directly with global powers, the old empire is being left behind, desperately fighting to stay relevant.
For the millions in Eastern DRC who have lived too long under the shadow of war, the stakes could not be higher. A chance for true peace is finally within grasp.
But as history reminds us, those who built their fortunes on chaos will not surrender easily. Today, the world must be vigilant, because not all wars are fought with guns. Some are fought with whispers, warnings, and well-dressed diplomats clutching old maps of empire.
AN
