The intermittent effect of peace accords between the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC and Rwanda / M23 continues to create confusion and instability in the eastern part of the DRC. There were high hopes in 2025 that the conflict would be finally resolved when the DRC and various parties involved, including Rwanda and M23, signed two major peace deals, including the much-touted Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity - signed in June and ratified in December 2025 - and a Declaration of Principles between DRC and M23 signed in July in Doha.
However, fighting broke out even before the ink was dry, with Rwanda accused by both the US and the UN of fuelling the conflict.
Although this long-running conflict is currently restricted to the border areas in the east, around Kivu province, the effects have wider repercussions throughout the country and the surrounding region, especially Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi. Conflict has displaced millions and is costing the DRC dearly in terms of operational costs as well as lost commercial activity. The international focus on the conflict detracts from the attention that should be paid to the DRC's economic and development aims and achievements.
