Rwanda-DRC peace talks under intense pressure as US sets ambitious deadline

The United States is urging rapid advancements in peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Key negotiation principles are in place, but implementation details remain under discussion.
The security crisis in eastern Congo, exacerbated by rebel activity, drives international concern and engagement.

Speaking at an online briefing attended by participants and stakeholders, the U.S. State Department's lead official for African affairs, Troy Fitrell, provided an update on the ongoing negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the two warring nations.

He said: "This coming week, we have technical teams on the ground to try to move to the next stage,"

Fitrell stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that while key principles of negotiations have been established, debates remain on implementation and agreements, with a June or July peace deal still in sight.

He also added, "There's no time for delay. If we're going to make this happen, we need to act now," underscoring Washington's push to accelerate negotiations.

His comments come amid persistent tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, where a planned peace deal meeting in May between the Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers was canceled; highlighting the fragility of dialogue despite ongoing mediation from Washington and Qatar.

Notably, the United States' renewed diplomatic urgency stems from growing concerns over the escalating security crisis in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has recently seized large tracts of territory, triggering mass displacements and posing a threat to regional stability, which in turn could impact potential US mining investments and future operations in the region.

Mediation in Doha

In a complementary effort, Qatar-led peace talks have been underway in recent months, with delegations from the DRC government and M23 rebels set to reconvene in Doha for further discussions.

According to diplomatic sources, mutual distrust between the two nations continues to hinder peace efforts, despite increased international engagement BI Africa

This initiative is tantamount to the US-led regional peace push and aims to address the ongoing military conflict in North Kivu, where the M23's resurgence has raised concerns about cross-border involvement.

Both initiatives seek to protect individual interests, particularly the region's natural resources.

The DRC's accusations that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels remain a point of contention, with Kigali consistently denying the allegations.

According to diplomatic sources, mutual distrust between the two nations continues to hinder peace efforts, despite increased international engagement

U.S. Mediation Role

Recall the recent diplomatic push to stabilize the Great Lakes region, where the US has taken on a key role. In March and May, Washington hosted senior officials from the DRC and Rwanda for backchannel talks, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio urged a ceasefire through diplomatic channels.

However, analysts caution that without stronger political will and trust-building measures, any agreement may be fragile.

A Western diplomat familiar with the process noted, "Diplomatic timelines have limits; sustainable peace requires concrete action and genuine engagement from both sides.”

As technical teams reconvene and mediators intensify their efforts, the focus is on whether the parties can overcome their deep-seated animosity to achieve a breakthrough in the coming weeks.

Olamilekan Okebiorun