Rwanda, DRC agree to "ease tensions" after talks in Washington

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed during talks in Washington to take "concrete steps" to ease tensions and advance a peace accord struck last year, a joint statement said.

Conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, where the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group controls key cities, has continued despite the two neighbors signing a peace deal with US President Donald Trump last year.

"On March 17-18, 2026, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda met in Washington, D.C. and agreed to concrete steps to further implementation of" last year's agreement, a joint US-DRC-Rwandan statement said.

The new pledge comes days after the United States ramped up pressure on Rwanda over the conflict, slapping sanctions on its military and imposing visa restrictions on several unspecified senior officials.

Rwanda criticises US sanctions

Thousands of Rwandan troops are deployed across eastern DRC, "where they actively engage in combat operations and facilitate M23's control of territory," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on March 2.

Rwanda said the US sanctions were "unjustly targeting only one party," accusing the DRC of violating the peace agreement with "indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives."

Rwanda has denied supporting the M23 and has long pressed Kinshasa to crack down on the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Hutu militants linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The joint statement on Wednesday said both countries had agreed to "a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground."

They include "a mutual commitment to specific measures to support each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the scheduled disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda in defined areas in DRC territory, time-bound and intensified efforts by the DRC to neutralize the FDLR, and the protection of all civilians."

Related articles

DRC: president Tshisekedi creates financial and economic criminal court

DR Congo authorities begin investigations into drone strike

M23 rebel group accuses DRC government of targeting civilians after drone strike

From the same country

All seven candidates to lead UN receive Security Council veto in informal poll

US issues new Iran-related sanctions against 16 individuals, 11 entities

Somali-born US lawmaker Ilhan Omar under investigation over immigration history

00:58

DRC: president Tshisekedi creates financial and economic criminal court

01:05

DR Congo authorities begin investigations into drone strike

01:59 M23 rebel group accuses DRC government of targeting civilians after drone strike

00:57 All seven candidates to lead UN receive Security Council veto in informal poll

01:02

US issues new Iran-related sanctions against 16 individuals, 11 entities

01:05 Somali-born US lawmaker Ilhan Omar under investigation over immigration history

00:58

DRC: president Tshisekedi creates financial and economic criminal court

01:05

DR Congo authorities begin investigations into drone strike

01:59 M23 rebel group accuses DRC government of targeting civilians after drone strike

00:57 All seven candidates to lead UN receive Security Council veto in informal poll

01:02

US issues new Iran-related sanctions against 16 individuals, 11 entities

01:05 Somali-born US lawmaker Ilhan Omar under investigation over immigration history

SPORT 00:55 F1's Lewis Hamilton says he'll keep driving to achieve dream of racing in Africa

NEWS 00:42 Tigray is still at war, rebel leader warns, claiming tactical victories

NEWS 01:07 'Deplorable': Belgium condemns ex-DRC leader Kabila's launch of political-military group

NEWS 00:59 United Nations condemns drone strikes on civilians and infrastructure in Sudan

NEWS

01:15

More than 40 civilians killed in Mali attack blamed on Islamic State

NEWS

01:35

Haitian gangs target foreign troops in biggest attack on new force

01:30

Nigeria

Nigeria's Tinubu defends policies as he launches re-election bid

01:13

Gabon

Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

01:01 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport partially resumes flights after Houthi attacks