Guterres Welcomes Peace Deal Between DR Congo and Rwanda

People fleeing a displacement camp to escape fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, signed on Friday in Washington, DC.

The accord is “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace, and stability in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region,” he said in a statement that evening.

Since the 1990s, eastern DRC has been plagued by dozens of armed groups terrorizing the population. The government has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda denies.

Earlier this year, M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu. Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, and serious human rights violations committed.

The Secretary-General commended the US for its leadership in facilitating the mediation process, in coordination with Qatar and African Union Mediator President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the five co-facilitators designated by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He urged the parties to fully honour their commitments under the peace agreement and UN Security Council resolution 2773 (2025), including cessation of hostilities and other agreed measures.

The resolution, unanimously adopted in February, condemned the M23 offensive and called for DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks.

The Secretary-General concluded by saying the UN, including its peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, “remains fully committed to supporting the implementation of the agreement, in close coordination with the African Union, regional and international partners.”

Coincidentally, the Security Council met on Friday to discuss developments in the DRC.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the country and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, welcomed the peace agreement as a significant step towards ending the conflict.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, echoed this message, saying the agreement “offers a chance to stop the cycle of violence and displacement and focus on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and opportunity.”

It “can bring renewed hope to those who have endured far too much for far too long,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

“This is a chance to turn the page – ensuring the protection of civilians, including refugees and internally displaced people, and advancing durable solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity,” he added.