The United States’ president met with leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi, to bring an end to the insecurity perpetrated by M23 rebels in the eastern region of the DRC.
A deal, simply referred to as the Washington Accords, was signed, effectively ending hostilities between Rwanda and the DRC that had lasted over 30 years.
The agreement entailed provisions for refugees to return to their homes, a lasting truce, the disarmament of non-state actors, justice against those who have perpetrated “illegal atrocities,” and a new framework for economic growth.
However, as has been characterized by the conflict between the two East African countries, maintaining a peace deal typically proves futile.
Less than a week after the deal was signed, the United Nations revealed that more than 200,000 people had been forced to flee renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past week.
In a statement issued late Monday, the United Nations said at least 74 people had been killed, largely civilians, and 83 had been brought to hospitals with wounds amid intensifying hostilities in the region in recent days.
Thousands of residents have had to migrate to neighboring Rwanda and Burundi, after the rebels recently took control of the town of Uvira, alongside Goma and Bukavu, which had been overrun earlier in the year.
Congo revealed that to protect civilians, its military will not respond, as seen on Reuters.
Conflict restarts between the DRC and M23 rebels after the peace deal
M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka revealed on Wednesday via X that M23 rebels had taken over the eastern Congo town of Uvira, near the Burundian border, in the biggest escalation in months of the long-running war.
Since Bukavu, the provincial capital, was overrun by M23 in February, Uvira, located on the banks of Lake Tanganyika, has functioned as both the regional military camp and the seat of the Kinshasa-appointed administration in South Kivu province.
This attack happened as both parties played the blame game, accusing each other of violating the treaty signed in the White House.
The Congolese army in the South Kivu area, where Kamanyola is situated, released a statement accusing M23 of attacking schools.
Congo relayed that Rwandan forces are still operating within its borders, while Rwanda maintains that its forces are in eastern Congo for “defensive measures.”
Additionally, M23, which is in separate negotiations with Congo and committed earlier this year to a truce that both sides accuse the other of breaking, was not included in the Washington deal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Congolese armed forces for the recent ceasefire violations.
In a nutshell, paranoid sentiments that the treaty is being violated, as well as Washington’s refusal to negotiate with the rebels directly, have prompted fresh attacks.
Another rationale could be the vast mineral reserves in the regions being attacked.
