The long-anticipated peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aimed at resolving the prolonged conflict in eastern DRC, will not be signed as initially scheduled on June 15, 2025. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed on Saturday that the deal, being brokered by the United States, “had to be adapted to the reality of the negotiations” and thus cannot be finalized yet.
“No peace deal will be signed this Sunday 15 June 2025 in Washington,” Nduhungirehe announced via social media platform X, emphasizing that discussions are still ongoing. He insisted that any agreement must reflect a “win-win” outcome for both countries and warned against the leaking of incomplete or biased details to the press, saying it could jeopardize the fragile negotiation process.
This development comes against a backdrop of worsening conflict in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group allegedly backed by Rwanda, according to UN experts and the U.S.—has made rapid territorial gains since January. Their offensive has led to the capture of strategic towns and the displacement of hundreds of thousands, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Rwanda has consistently denied providing military support to M23, instead accusing the DRC of harboring anti-Rwandan armed groups, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed of remnants from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Tensions escalated further last week when Rwanda withdrew from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing bias in favor of the DRC. This move underscores Kigali’s growing frustration with regional efforts to resolve the conflict.
Earlier attempts to broker peace, including a March meeting in Qatar between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, failed to produce tangible results. Despite multiple ceasefires since M23’s resurgence in 2021, the conflict persists, leaving thousands dead and many more displaced.
While hopes remain for a comprehensive peace deal, the delay signals deep mistrust and complex underlying issues that will require more than diplomatic urgency to resolve.
