Rwanda, Congo Agree on Steps to De-escalate Tensions

A U.S. brokered meeting between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda marks a renewed attempt to stabilize eastern Congo, with both sides committing to coordinated de-escalation steps amid persistent conflict and rising regional risk.

The talks, held in Washington on March 18 over two days, represent the first direct engagement between the parties since the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officers on March 2. Washington has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali denies.

The meeting focused on reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Congo, where M23 has maintained control over significant territory following its January 2025 offensive.

According to a joint statement released by the U.S. State Department, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda “agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.”

The agreement outlines reciprocal commitments tied to sovereignty, security operations, and civilian protection.

The agreed measures include a “mutual commitment to specific measures to support each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” alongside provisions for the “scheduled disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda in defined areas in DRC territory.”

In parallel, the DRC committed to “time-bound and intensified efforts” to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group founded by Hutu fighters linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which killed close to 1 million people. The agreement also emphasizes “the protection of all civilians,” reflecting ongoing humanitarian concerns in conflict zones.

The structure of the agreement reflects a reciprocal security framework, pairing Rwandan military adjustments with Congolese counterinsurgency obligations against the FDLR.

The meeting follows a period of heightened diplomatic pressure after U.S. sanctions on March 2 targeted Rwanda’s military leadership. These measures were linked to Washington’s assessment of Rwanda’s role in sustaining M23 operations in eastern Congo.

Despite these tensions, both sides returned to dialogue under U.S. mediation, signaling a willingness to re-engage.

Accordingly, the new talks build on a December agreement signed in Washington as part of a broader U.S. initiative under President Donald Trump to broker peace and unlock billions of dollars in Western investment.

However, developments shortly after that deal exposed its fragility. Days later, M23 fighters advanced into the eastern Congolese city of Uvira near the Burundi border in one of the most significant escalations in months, before withdrawing under U.S. pressure.

The continued presence of M23 forces near Burundi’s border remains a key concern. Washington warned earlier this month that the situation “carries the risk of escalating the conflict into a broader regional war.”

M23, which says it is defending ethnic Tutsi communities, has maintained positions across eastern Congo since its January 2025 advance.