Statement on the December 4th Signing of the Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Hosted by the United States

Washington, DC — The United States hosted the formal signing of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the White House. The signing followed months of U.S.-led mediation to address the prolonged conflict in eastern Congo.

Yet barely five days later, violence continues to sharply escalate. According to the United Nations, about 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Congo in recent days as Rwanda-backed rebels advance on the strategic town of Uvira in eastern DRC. At least 74 people have been killed, mostly civilians, and more than 80 wounded in the recent clashes. This immediate deterioration on the ground lays bare the gap between the political theater in Washington and the lived reality of Congolese communities.

Since January 2025, over 8,000 lives have been lost, more than 6 million people remain internally displaced, and over 1 million have been forced to flee their country. The most recent mass displacement and killings in and around Uvira only add to this staggering toll. Yet the agreement does not acknowledge the scale of these atrocities nor outline a credible pathway to accountability for the perpetrators of mass killings, forced displacement, and sexual violence.

Without explicit calls for justice and accountability for state and non-state actors who committed grave human rights abuses, this agreement risks becoming yet another political exercise detached from the lived realities of Congolese communities. The following key elements are necessary to ensure long-term regional stability:

● Foreign troops must be withdrawn fully and transparently. The thousands of Rwandan troops operating in eastern DRC must withdraw in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2773, passed in February 2025. Anything short of full, verifiable withdrawal undermines both Congolese sovereignty and the credibility of this process. The continued presence and operations of these forces, especially around Uvira and other strategic areas, show that this core obligation is being openly violated.

● The inclusion of civil society is non-negotiable. Congolese civil society, including survivors and women’s groups must be included in the negotiation process and be granted a formal role in the monitoring, implementation, and oversight phases of the accord. The voices of those directly impacted by displacement and ongoing attacks, from Uvira to Goma and beyond, cannot remain sidelined while decisions are made in closed-door meetings in Washington and regional capitals.

● Accountability requires a clear and respected sequence of actions. The agreed sequencing process has been ignored. Joint Operation Committees (JOC) and Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) meetings have produced no irreversible troop disengagement, humanitarian access remains blocked, civilians face insecurity, and the ceasefire continues to be violated. The renewed offensive toward Uvira and the flight of 200,000 people in a matter of days demonstrate that there is no meaningful enforcement of commitments on the ground.

● Sequencing must precede economic integration. The Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) is advancing without safeguards. Pushing economic integration before ensuring respect for Congo’s territorial sovereignty, accountability, and governance reforms risks deepening instability for the entire Great Lakes Region. Allowing business-as-usual mineral and infrastructure deals to move forward while civilians are forced to flee yet again sends a clear message: profits are being prioritized over people.

● Transparency is fundamental. At every stage—from mineral deals to military planning—critical decisions have been made in secrecy. Culminating in a final agreement that was not publicly shared prior to its signing, further eroding trust with the Congolese and American stakeholders.

Under the current conditions, the December 4th ceremony was largely symbolic—a hollow gesture that prioritized political optics over the lives and needs of thousands of Congolese civilians. The fact that, within days of the White House event, hundreds of thousands more were forced to flee and dozens were killed in and around Uvira underscores how little this accord has changed conditions on the ground. Without accountability, justice, or the full withdrawal of occupying forces, the ceremony has effectively legitimized ongoing violence, giving the appearance of progress without tangible gains for the Congolese people.

It raises urgent questions: what does this agreement truly achieve, and for whom?

The Congo Diaspora Desk calls for a revised, transparent, and community-centered implementation plan that respects timelines, ensures accountability, and places Congolese civilians, rather than political expediency, at the center of regional peace efforts.

The DRC Diaspora Desk

About The DRC Diaspora Desk:

The DRC Diaspora Desk is a coalition of Congolese organizations, leaders, advocates, and allies committed to collective action for the benefit of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a hub for coordinated advocacy, we work to ensure that Congolese voices are heard and their rights are respected on local and international platforms.