On June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a landmark peace agreement in Washington D.C., brokered by the Trump administration.
- The agreement seeks to end the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo, which has caused massive loss of life and displacement.
- Additionally, the deal is aimed at securing economic opportunities and attracting Western investment to the mineral-rich region of Central Africa.
Key Highlights
- Peace Agreement: The deal calls for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo within 90 days.
- Economic Cooperation: The agreement includes the creation of a regional economic integration framework, which will focus on expanding trade and investment between both countries.
- Mineral supply chains, including those for cobalt, copper, and gold, will be at the heart of this economic cooperation.
- Penalties for Violations: U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning, stating that there would be severe penalties if either country violates the terms of the agreement.
- Security Measures: A joint security coordination mechanism is to be established within 30 days by both countries to address the security situation, especially focusing on armed groups like the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).
- International Support: Ongoing mediation talks are being conducted in Doha to address the situation with the M23 rebels in Congo, which is crucial for advancing the economic framework agreed upon in the peace deal.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
- The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo has led to severe humanitarian consequences: thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
- Mineral-rich areas in eastern Congo have been particularly affected, with resources like cobalt, gold, and copper being exploited amidst the conflict, further intensifying the instability in the region.
Background of the Conflict
- Origins in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide: During which approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by extremist Hutu forces.
- Hutu militias, including the FDLR, fled to Congo (then Zaire), resulting in regional instability that has persisted for decades.
- Refugee Crisis and Militant Presence: The Hutu refugees, many armed, settled in eastern Congo, where they posed a direct threat to Rwanda’s security.
- Rwanda accused the Congolese government of harboring these militias, leading to ongoing tensions between the two countries.
- First Congo War (1996-1997): Rwanda intervened militarily in Congo in 1996, supporting Laurent-Désiré Kabila in overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko.
- This intervention resulted in the First Congo War, which officially ended in 1997 but set the stage for further conflicts in the region.
- Second Congo War (1998-2003): The fall of Mobutu led to the Second Congo War, involving multiple African nations, including Rwanda and Uganda.
- Rwanda supported rebel groups in eastern Congo, claiming they were fighting against Hutu militants, while Congo’s government was supported by Angola, Zimbabwe, and other countries.
- This war resulted in millions of deaths and is referred to as “Africa’s World War” due to its widespread impact.
- M23 Rebellion: In 2012, the M23 rebel group was formed in eastern Congo, largely consisting of former soldiers from the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a group once supported by Rwanda.
- The M23 seized key cities (e.g. Goma) and mineral-rich areas in eastern Congo, leading to intense violence and displacement.
M23 Armed Group
- M23 (March 23 Movement) is one of over 100 armed groups fighting Congolese forces in eastern DRC.
- Ethnic Composition: Leadership is dominated by ethnic Tutsis, a minority group in eastern DRC.
 Main Objective: Claims to protect the interests of Congolese Tutsis and other minorities, especially against Hutu rebel groups that fled to DRC after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.- Location: Active in North Kivu province, along the borders of Rwanda and Uganda, with over 8,000 fighters as per UN estimates .
- Origin of Name: Named after the March 23, 2009, accord between the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a Tutsi-led rebel group, and the Congolese government to end a Tutsi-led revolt.
- Allegations of Support: Rwanda is accused by the UN and DRC of supporting M23 with training, weapons, and even soldiers.
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About Rwanda
- Landlocked country located south of the equator in east-central Africa.
 Part of the Great Rift Valley region of Africa, often referred to as the “land of a thousand hills” due to its hilly and mountainous terrain.- It shares borders with Burundi (south), Tanzania (east), Uganda (north) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (west).
- One of Africa’s most densely populated nations (~1,000 people per square mile), the Majority population comprises Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups Predominantly Christian.
- Major Mountain Ranges: Albertine Rift and Virunga Mountains.
- Major rivers: Nile and Congo
- Other significant rivers: Kagera, Nyabarongo, Ruzizi, Luhwa, Akanyaru
- Drainage Patterns:
- ~80% of rivers drain into the Nile Basin via Lake Victoria
- ~20% drain into the Congo Basin via Rusizi River
- Lakes: Lake Kivu (bordering DRC) and Other Significant Lakes: Burera, Cohana, Ruhondo, Muhazi, Rweru, Ihema
Places in News: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Located in Central Africa, it is the second-largest country in Africa after Algeria.
- It has a small maritime boundary with the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
- Shares land boundaries with
- North: Central African Republic and South Sudan.
- East: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
- West: Republic of the Congo and Angola.
- South: Zambia.
- The climate is tropical as the Equator passes through DRC.
- Home to the world’s largest tropical peatlands, along with Brazil and Indonesia
- The Congo River is the main river in the country , crosses the Equator twice and is one of the world’s deepest and second-longest rivers in Africa.
- The country is rich in minerals such as cobalt, copper, coltan, gold, coal, iron ore, and lithium.
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Additional Reading: Congo Crisis Places in News: DRC and Rwanda
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