Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to grapple with relentless violence a year after the historic peace accord between Kinshasa and Kigali. The truce, signed in Washington with U.S. involvement, aimed to curb the resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel faction accused by the United Nations of receiving military backing from Rwanda.
From Doha to Washington: a fragile peace process
The peace initiative unfolded in two phases. First, negotiations began in Doha in April 2025 between the Congolese government and the M23’s political wing, the Congo River Alliance, under Qatari mediation. Concurrently, the United States led parallel talks between the DRC and Rwanda. The culmination came on June 27, 2025, when both nations signed a peace agreement in Washington, witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A year later: no progress, only a standstill
Yet, the eastern DRC remains trapped in a military stalemate. According to political analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liège, the M23 still controls the territories it had seized, while sporadic gunfire and ceasefire violations persist from both sides. “The rebels are not only holding their ground but also expanding their recruitment efforts,” Kabamba warns. “The balance of power on the ground dictates who will dictate the agenda in the future.”
Ebola and instability compound the crisis
The fragile peace is further strained by overlapping challenges. The eastern DRC has been battling a prolonged Ebola outbreak, exacerbating the humanitarian toll of the conflict. Meanwhile, the M23’s continued consolidation of power raises fears of a prolonged conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
As the region marks one year since the Washington accord, the question remains: can diplomacy break the deadlock, or will eastern DRC remain locked in this destructive cycle?
