President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 9/12 accused Rwanda of failing to comply with a peace agreement brokered by the US and Qatar. This accusation comes just days after additional documents, supplementing a June peace deal, were signed in Washington.

Efforts to implement the agreement were quickly overshadowed by renewed bloody fighting. Last weekend, M23 rebels advanced deep into DRC territory near Burundi, capturing Luvungi village. Rwanda has consistently denied accusations of supporting the M23 group.

DRC forces withdrew from Luvungi, subsequently clashing with Wazalendo forces, a rebel group in the country's east, on 8/12 in Sange town. The following day, explosions occurred in Sange, killing 36 people. Monitoring organizations have not yet determined which side initiated the firing or the type of weapon responsible for the explosions.

US president Donald Trump (center) with Democratic Republic of Congo president Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi (right) and Rwanda president Paul Kagame at the US Institute of Peace on 4/12. Photo: AP

This outbreak of fighting occurred despite both the DRC and Rwandan governments reaffirming their commitment to the US-brokered ceasefire agreement last week, alongside signing new documents in Washington. Rwanda has yet to comment on President Tshisekedi's latest accusations.

A US State Department spokesperson expressed particular concern, stating, "The US government is particularly concerned about the ongoing violence in eastern Congo, causing displacement and suffering for countless families. Rwanda, which continues to support M23, must prevent escalation."

A senior official within President Donald Trump's administration confirmed they are closely monitoring developments. This includes scrutinizing areas where the parties' actions have not aligned with the commitments made in the peace agreement.

The official further stated that the US is actively working with both the DRC and Rwanda. They emphasized that President Trump had clearly communicated to both sides that "progress in implementing the ceasefire is the criterion for evaluation, and he expects immediate results."

Location of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Graphic: BBC

The ceasefire, signed by the DRC's foreign minister and his Rwandan counterpart on 27/6 in the Oval Office, saw the two East African nations pledge to "immediately and unconditionally end all state support for rebel groups" in eastern DRC. They also committed to promoting the disarmament and reintegration of these forces.

President Trump previously commented that the conflict between the two countries was "one of the worst wars" globally. He stated that the peace agreement not only brought an end to years of bloody conflict but also created an opportunity for the US "to exploit many minerals in Congo."

Thanh Danh (According to Reuters)