The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to take concrete steps to ease tensions amid a stalled peace process, after talks hosted by the US in Washington.
Conflict in eastern DR Congo has continued despite the two countries signing a peace deal with US President Donald Trump last year.
The pledge to ease tensions comes after the US earlier this month sanctioned the Rwandan Defence Forces and four senior officials and accused Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebel group, blaming it for escalating the conflict.
A joint statement by DR Congo, Rwanda, and the US states they have agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.
They pledged to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Rwanda would disengage its forces and lift defensive measures... in defined areas in DR Congo's territory. Meanwhile, DR Congo would intensify time-bound efforts to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group active in the region comprising Rwandan Hutus linked to the 1994 genocide.
Rwanda considers FDLR a threat to its own territory and has repeatedly denied supporting M23 despite claims of evidence to the contrary. The ongoing conflict has drawn international scrutiny, exacerbated by recent US sanctions and accusations of violations against both nations.
In essence, as the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, hoping for a sustainable peace in a region long marred by conflict.
