DRC-Rwanda de-escalation deal: Troop pullback pledged in UStalks

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to take new steps to reduce fighting in eastern Congo, following US-hosted talks aimed at reviving a fragile peace deal that has failed to hold.

• DRC and Rwanda agreed to de-escalate eastern Congo tensions after US-hosted talks in Washington on March 17-18, 2026.
• Rwanda will disengage forces and lift defensive measures from defined DRC areas.
• DRC will intensify time-bound operations to neutralize the FDLR militia.
• The pledge revives the stalled December 2025 Washington Accords amid M23 rebel control and recent US sanctions on Rwanda.

In a joint statement issued after meetings in Washington on 17–18 March, both countries said they would implement coordinated actions to de-escalate tensions and make progress on last year’s agreement.

The measures include a commitment to respect each other’s sovereignty, the planned disengagement of Rwandan forces from parts of Congolese territory, and intensified, time-bound efforts by Congo to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The FDLR, a Hutu-led armed group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, remains active in eastern Congo. Rwanda has long described the group as a direct security threat, while Congo has accused Kigali of backing the M23 rebel movement.

Fighting has continued despite a US-brokered peace deal signed in December under President Donald Trump. The M23, which controls large parts of the mineral-rich east including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, has remained central to the conflict.

Days after the agreement was signed, the group advanced into the city of Uvira near the Burundi border in one of the biggest escalations in months before withdrawing under pressure. It still holds significant territory.

The latest diplomatic push comes as Washington increases pressure on Rwanda. Earlier this month, the US imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and several senior officials, accusing them of supporting M23 operations.

US officials said the rebels’ battlefield gains would not have been possible without external backing. Rwanda has denied supporting M23, insisting its military posture is defensive and linked to threats from armed groups such as the FDLR.

Kigali has also accused Congo of breaching the earlier agreement through drone strikes and ground offensives, highlighting deep mistrust between both sides.

Recent drone attacks have further raised tensions. A French national working with the United Nations and two others were killed last week, underscoring growing risks to civilians and aid workers.

The conflict in eastern Congo is driven by a complex mix of armed groups and competition over vast mineral resources, including cobalt, coltan and gold, which are critical to global technology and electric vehicle supply chains.

While the new commitments signal cautious progress, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with diplomats warning that failure to implement the agreed steps could push the conflict towards a wider regional crisis.