The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the Alliance of Rivers Congo (AFC) rebel coalition have achieved significant progress in negotiations mediated by the United States.
DRC-Rebel Alliance Negotiations Advance
The DRC government and the Alliance of Rivers Congo (AFC) have made notable headway in discussions concerning humanitarian aid deliveries and a ceasefire, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State on Saturday evening.
Negotiations held in Switzerland this past week also saw significant alignment on legal protections and prisoner releases. The United States, acting as a mediator between the DRC and rebel groups – including the Rwanda-backed March 23 (M23) movement – reported that all parties agreed to refrain from attacks on civilians and facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid convoys.
About the Alliance of Rivers Congo
The Alliance of Rivers Congo is a coalition of approximately ten rebel groups, encompassing both Congolese factions and those supported by neighboring countries. The M23, considered a leading force within the alliance, is led by Corneille Nangaa, the former chairman of the DRC’s central election commission, with the stated goal of overthrowing the current DRC government.
M23 Offensive and Resource Control
From January to July of last year, M23 launched an offensive in eastern DRC, supported by around 7,000 Rwandan army soldiers, seizing extensive areas of two Congolese provinces bordering Lake Kivu. These provinces are rich in mineral deposits, including tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium. Kinshasa accuses the rebels of attempting to gain control over these resources.
M23 leadership maintains that the campaign aimed to protect the Tutsi population from Hutu individuals who sought refuge in eastern DRC following the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the subsequent two wars.
Recent Peace Agreements
On June 27, 2024, the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Olivier Nduhungirehe, signed an initial peace agreement in Washington D.C. A framework agreement between the DRC and M23 followed in late November, culminating in a peace accord signed on December 4, 2024, by the presidents of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Challenges to the Peace Accord
Despite provisions for a “lasting ceasefire, disarmament of non-state forces, ensuring the return of refugees home, and justice and accountability for those who committed unlawful atrocities,” acts of violence have repeatedly occurred in eastern DRC since the agreement, perpetrated by both rebels and government forces.