US Steps in to Mediate Congo-Rwanda Conflict After Qatar Talks Collapse
The United States has stepped up diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, after Qatar-brokered talks collapsed earlier this week.
US officials on Friday hosted foreign ministers from both countries in Washington, where they agreed to a framework aimed at drafting a peace deal by May 2.
The two sides committed to ceasing support for armed groups operating in eastern Congo, where conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The intervention follows the failure of negotiations in Doha, where Congolese authorities and the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing, were unable to agree on key conditions.
The Doha talks broke down over demands for the release of prisoners and political recognition for M23, points the Congolese government rejected.
Violence in eastern Congo has flared in recent months as M23, a predominantly Tutsi-led rebel movement, seized territory in North Kivu province.
Congo and United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of providing direct military support to the rebels, allegations Kigali denies.
Tensions peaked in 2022 when Congo expelled Rwanda’s ambassador and scaled back diplomatic ties.
Since then, Washington has imposed sanctions on senior Rwandan military figures and suspended military aid, citing concerns over Rwanda’s alleged involvement with armed groups and the use of child soldiers.
The fresh US-brokered agreement is part of broader efforts to stabilise the volatile region and safeguard critical mineral supply chains.
Both Congo and Rwanda have expressed willingness to cooperate with American companies in separate mining deals, as the United States seeks to reduce dependency on China for key minerals such as cobalt and tantalum.
The US State Department said it would continue to monitor progress towards the peace deal and hold both parties accountable to their commitments.
Analysts, however, warn that previous regional agreements have failed to take hold, citing deep mistrust and a history of broken ceasefires.
The agreement comes ahead of a summit planned later this year, which will review political reforms in the region and the future disarmament of armed groups.
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