The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in eastern Congo, marking a surprise move in the midst of a three-decade conflict. The announcement follows a meeting between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Qatar on Tuesday.
Analysts say the ceasefire could be a de-escalation in the conflict that has threatened to become a regional war, or it may be another failed attempt at bringing peace to the region. The fighting has displaced over 700,000 people since January, according to the United Nations refugee agency, and killed thousands of others.
The leaders’ meeting came as the European Union announced sanctions on Rwanda’s government and military officials over their backing of a Rwandan-backed armed group, M23, which captured eastern Congo’s two largest cities. Rwanda retaliated by severing diplomatic ties with Belgium, a country that was once a colonial ruler in both Congo and Rwanda.
Mr. Tshisekedi and Mr. Kagame said they aimed to establish solid foundations for lasting peace in eastern Congo, where decades of fighting over ethnic tensions and access to land have killed millions of people. However, previous attempts at truces have failed due to ceasefires being violated or parties backing out of talks.
M23, a group created in 2012 with an estimated 6,000 to 9,000 soldiers, controls a significant area in eastern Congo rich in minerals. It is unclear whether the group will heed the calls for a ceasefire. Rwanda denies backing M23 and claims the violence is threatening its security.
Experts say several options are now on the table, including peace negotiations, integration of M23 fighters into the Congolese Army, establishment of a buffer zone, or even Rwandan annexation of the region. The United States could have convened peace talks, but given the Trump administration’s lack of priority, Qatar stepped in.
The ceasefire announcement has raised questions about what next steps will be taken to achieve lasting peace in eastern Congo. With international pressure mounting and Rwanda facing sanctions, it remains to be seen if this move will bring an end to the conflict or just another failed attempt at bringing peace to the region.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/africa/congo-rwanda-conflict-ceasefire.html