Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo returned to the mediated negotiating table in Washington (March 17-18) and agreed to concrete steps to ‘de-escalete”.

The two sides have resolved to this time round to implement a peace agreement reached with the help of US President Donald Trump last year.

According to the US Department of State, “These efforts 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.”

However, the Kinshasa regime continues to coordinate with FDLR rebels to fight the AFC/M23, despite pledges in Washington that it would neutralize the group, according to a UN experts’ report.

The Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), is a rebel militia largely composed of perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi in Rwanda.

Meanwhile, the DRC blames Rwanda for backing up the AFC/M23 rebels. Kigali categorically rejects the accusations saying it is an internal affair and Rwanda is not responsible.

M23 staged a lightning advance in eastern Congo in January 2025 ⁠and still holds large swathes of territory.