The recent advance of the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has exposed the limitations of current peace efforts in the region. Although the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC signed the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity on December 4, the M23 launched a renewed offensive in South Kivu, seizing the city of Uvira on December 10, 2025. The attack killed at least 400 people and displaced more than 200,000, raising regional tensions. DRC President Félix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of violating its commitments, while Burundi denounced Rwanda’s “belligerent attitude.” Rwanda, in turn, claims that the DRC and Burundi have breached cease‑fire arrangements. Complicating matters, the Washington Accords do not include the M23, which is conducting parallel talks with the government in Doha.
The failure of peace processes to avert this escalation can be traced to several factors. International pressure on the key parties remains limited, with coercive tools such as sanctions largely absent. Moreover, the peace initiatives have ignored the interconnected internal and regional drivers of the conflict, including unresolved land disputes, local power struggles, and the presence of foreign rebel groups. Neighboring countries, notably Uganda and Burundi, have also deployed troops in eastern DRC, further destabilizing the area. The presence of foreign forces such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a core component of the Washington deal—adds another layer of complexity.
To address the crisis, an urgent withdrawal of Rwandan forces and an end to external support for armed groups are needed. This requires moving away from parallel peace processes toward a sequenced approach, conditioning Rwandan disengagement on actions against the FDLR and on a broader peace dialogue. The broader regionalization of the conflict must also be tackled, involving bodies such as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and anchored in UN Security Council Resolution 2773. Ultimately, a genuine national peace process that includes the M23 and other actors is essential to confront the structural conditions that perpetuate conflict in the DRC. Lessons from the Second Congo War—where regional disengagement paved the way for a Congolese‑led peace process—should guide this effort. The international community must prioritize a comprehensive, inclusive approach to address the complex drivers of the conflict and promote lasting peace in the region.
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