Limited progress in DRC peace diplomacy: un report highlights gaps in Washington, Doha, Montreux accords
The Washington accords, Doha agreements, and Montreux commitments raised hopes for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A recent UN expert report brings them back to reality, describing only “limited results.”
The withdrawal of Rwandan defence forces and the AFC/M23 amounted to no more than “tactical repositioning” of 15 to 20 kilometres. Meanwhile, Rwandan reinforcements, including anti-aircraft systems, kept arriving until April 2026. No significant pullback was observed in the following weeks.
The DRC is not exempt from responsibility in this failure. The report notes that Kinshasa did not honour its pledge to neutralise the FDLR, which continued fighting alongside the FARDC.
Experts also point to internal divisions within the AFC/M23. While Corneille Nangaa and Joseph Kabila aimed to seize power in Kinshasa, most M23 military leaders opposed any operations beyond North Kivu and South Kivu. This rift between political ambitions and military realities undermines the movement’s coherence.
