Eastern DRC: Towards a historic agreement between Kagame and Tshisekedi?
The Presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, will meet this Sunday, December 15, 2024 in Luanda, Angola. This summit, crucial for the region, raises hopes of ending three decades of devastating conflict in eastern DRC.
A draft agreement under discussion
Negotiations that have been ongoing for several months could lead to the signing of a peace agreement. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, said:
“We are working on an agreement that could be finalized on Sunday.”
On the Congolese side, a government source also confirmed this shared desire:
“There is a desire to move towards signing an agreement on Sunday in Luanda.”
Joao Lourenço, Angolan president and mediator appointed by the African Union (AU), expressed his optimism on Friday in Pretoria:
“I am hopeful that this meeting will result in the signing or decision to sign soon a lasting peace agreement between the two neighboring countries.”
The stakes: the M23 and persistent instability
At the heart of the discussions is the role of the March 23 Movement (M23) , an armed group supported by Kigali. Since November 2021, the M23 has taken control of vast territories in eastern DRC, a region rich in mineral resources, including gold, coltan and cassiterite. These minerals fuel complex and often illegal economic networks that finance the armed groups.
The humanitarian situation is alarming. In Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, more than a million people are living under direct threat from the rebels. Nearly a million displaced people are crammed into makeshift camps, exposed to precarious living conditions and ongoing violence.
International mediation: a key role
The summit comes after several failed mediation attempts. Under the auspices of the African Union and with the support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), plans have been drawn up to disarm the M23 and stabilise the region.
However, the success of this agreement depends on:
- Neutralizing the M23 : Both sides must agree on modalities to disarm the group and restore state authority in rebel-controlled areas.
- Rwanda’s role : Kigali, accused of actively supporting the M23, will have to clarify its commitments to avoid further inflaming tensions.
- Regional and international mobilization : Angola, the United Nations and other partners must ensure rigorous monitoring to avoid a relapse into violence.
A fragile but essential hope
After decades of suffering, this summit represents a unique opportunity to end one of Africa’s most complex conflicts. The active involvement of Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame and the support of regional and international actors can finally chart a path towards lasting peace in eastern DRC.
It remains to be seen whether this hope will come to fruition or whether, like so many attempts before it, it will be swept away by the region’s entrenched conflict dynamics.
