After three days of dialogue with the United States Department of State, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a provisional peace agreement, intending to stop the conflict in the eastern DRC.
A joint statement made by all parties said that this was “constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests.”
The agreement is said to entail provisions on key issues such as the return of refugees, disarmament, and the integration of non-state armed groups.
The eastern DRC region has been caught up in decades-long conflict as a result of armed groups competing for access to natural resources.
The participation of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in Goma reportedly escalated the conflict further, given the mineral-rich areas surrounding the city. The group later took control of the city of Bukavu which, reportedly, resulted in thousands of deaths and mass internal displacement.
Rwanda denies any collaboration or support with these armed groups; however, many of the involved parties have been accused of perpetrating human rights abuses.
Amnesty International further went on to accuse the M23 group of “torturing and killing civilians.” The organisation said, “These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.”
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Earlier this week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, reaffirmed this accusation, stating that the allied armed groups, rebels, and DRC troops have all contributed to human rights abuses.
Turk has called on all the involved parties “to commit immediately to a ceasefire and resume negotiations, and to respect international humanitarian and human rights law.”
The United States then stepped up as a mediator to end the conflict in the eastern DRC region to unlock large investments in the mineral-rich region.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, claims that this draft peace agreement, if abided by, would serve as a “win-win”, targeting both peace and investment. The success, however, is yet to be seen as an estimated six peace agreements signed since 2021 have failed to stabilise the region.
The US and Qatar continue to lead mediation efforts, while Angola has stepped down. The formal signing of the draft peace agreement is reportedly scheduled for June 27.
