Political analysts believe that the peace agreement signed between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), along with the declaration of principles signed between the DRC and the rebel coalition AFC/M23, are complementary efforts that offer renewed hope for lasting peace in eastern Congo. However, they caution that a long journey still lies ahead.
On July 19, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, the DRC government and AFC/M23 signed a declaration of principles outlining the terms for a future peace deal, following the earlier June 27, 2025 agreement signed in Washington DC between Rwanda and the DRC.
According to Qatar’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign: “Our goal is one. After the Heads of State met in Doha, we established a path toward peace. We managed to halt tensions between the two countries. Fortunately, our strong international partner enabled the Washington agreement to be signed. From there, we continued the Doha process to address Congo’s internal issues. These two processes complement each other in seeking peace, development, and prosperity for people in eastern Congo.”
This complementarity is also reflected in the documents:
Article 2 of the Rwanda–DRC agreement requires fighters to disarm with some reintegrating into civilian life and others joining Congo’s security services.
Article 4 of the Doha framework between DRC and M23 emphasizes that the control of the entire country must rest with the national government.
Dr. Ismael Buchanan, a political science expert, agrees the documents are aligned but warns: “Some people are mistakenly analyzing these agreements as though everything is resolved. But we might be surprised when some parties fail to honor what they committed to. You can’t tell me that if M23 demands Kinshasa’s government step down, it’ll happen instantly. Right now, the words have been spoken, the documents signed but we need to see whether real action follows. Experience shows us that both sides have often been reluctant or slow to act.”
Still, Dr. Al-Khulaifi stresses that this time is different: “What separates this from past agreements is the high level of international attention and the shared commitment to implementation. That’s why we’ll continue to monitor it closely even after this stage. We’ll follow through until the final agreement is signed.”
Dr. Massad Boulos, advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump and his special envoy to Africa, also emphasized U.S. support: “Clearly, this framework is a starting point but an essential one. It outlines fundamental principles that prioritize resolving conflict through peaceful dialogue. We trust in Qatar’s leadership and are already sitting with our Qatari partners to prepare the final agreement, which we hope will be signed soon.”
According to the signed framework, the DRC and AFC/M23 have committed to begin implementation by July 29, 2025, and to hold additional talks no later than August 8, 2025. All discussions must align with the Rwanda–DRC peace agreement of June 27, 2025.
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