Washington, DC – Friday, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda (Rwanda), facilitated by the United States of America (US), signed the “Peace Agreement between the [DRC] and [Rwanda]” marking the most recent attempt to bring peace to a region whose peoples have been suffering for three decades as governments, rebels, and military factions fight over the rights of critical minerals and land. While this new agreement is hopeful, experts in Africa’s Great Lakes Region are skeptical given the history of broken peace agreements that were signed in bad faith, the lack of justice and accountability by authoritarian regimes, and the lack of basic recognition of the atrocities committed by Rwanda over the years.
Steven Nabieu Rogers, PhD, Executive Director at the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) made the following remarks:
- “We commend the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda for signing the Declaration of Principles for Peace in Washington D.C. on June 27, 2025. This agreement marks a crucial step towards peace, stability, and integrated economic development in the eastern DRC region.
- “The humanitarian crisis in the DRC has been one of the most severe and neglected crises of our time. We welcome this peace agreement as a vital step towards protecting civilian lives caught up in the conflict in eastern DRC and promoting stability in the region.
- “But while we are excited for this agreement, we feel that many of the concerns remain, including the need for justice and accountability for human rights violations, and the need to address the root causes of the conflict, such as resource exploitation and the presence of armed groups.”
Mr. Jacques Bahati, Policy Analyst at the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) made the following remarks:
- “We acknowledge the peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda as an important diplomatic milestone. But there is no reason for celebration until the last Rwandan soldier leaves Congo and M23 lays down its arms. True peace will only follow if the Qatar-led negotiations with non-state actors continue in good faith.
- “This peace agreement may quiet the guns, but it silences the victims. Millions of Congolese continue to live with the trauma of atrocities committed with impunity. Without truth and justice, there can be no lasting peace.
- “To support this peace agreement, the U.S. Congress must fully enforce Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act to disrupt the war economy fueling Congo’s violence. The UN must also recognize the acts of genocide committed by invading forces in 1996, as documented in its own Mapping Report. These steps are critical to lay the foundation for lasting peace and national healing.”
Read the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs’ “Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda”
Read AFJN’s January 2025 Press Release “AFJN Calls on Congress for US Action Against Rwanda’s Violation of Territorial Integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo”
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The Africa Faith and Justice Network is a faith-based, non-partisan coalition of 32 US-based religious communities of men and women. Inspired by the Gospel and informed by Catholic Social Teaching, the Africa Faith and Justice Network seeks to educate and advocate for just Africa-US relations that empower Africans to be agents of their own destiny, thriving in a just and equitable society. www.afjn.org