Geneva Talks to End the War in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

New talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are taking place in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. These negotiations are occurring while fighting in eastern Congo continues, and residents of the region are suffering from the effects of the war.

Continuing Conflicts in Eastern Congo

While negotiations between officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are ongoing in Geneva, clashes between armed forces and various groups in eastern Congo are intensifying. The M23 group, which captured the city of Goma in January 2025, controls large parts of the region, and according to residents, their daily lives are severely affected by these conflicts.

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Jozo Akuzuh Walai, a human rights activist from Kinshasa, states that people are still waiting for the real benefits of peace. He says, "People are still waiting for the realities of peace that have been promised for over a year. Lands in eastern Congo continue to be devastated, and more displacements are being reported."

Main Disputes and Security Concerns

At the center of this dispute is the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which is considered a security threat to Rwanda. This group has formed since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and many of its members have sought refuge in eastern Congo. Kinshasa has initiated the process of neutralizing the FDLR under a Washington agreement, and Congolese officials claim that this process is underway.

However, Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, has described the agreements regarding the FDLR as insufficient. Patrick Muyaya, the Minister of Information in Congo, has rejected these statements and emphasized Kinshasa's commitment to implementing the agreements.

Disputes between Kinshasa and Kigali continue not only over the FDLR neutralization process but also over security concerns and sovereignty. Rwanda is seeking reliable guarantees to prevent armed groups from operating against it on Congolese soil, while Kinshasa believes that Rwanda's security concerns cannot justify the presence of foreign forces on Congolese territory.

Ultimately, these negotiations in Geneva are taking place while conflicts in North and South Kivu between the Congolese army and armed groups, including the M23 forces, continue. The AFC-M23 group has accused Kinshasa of attacking populated areas and violating ceasefire agreements. Lawrence Kanioka, the spokesperson for AFC-M23, has called on the people of Congo and the international community to pay attention to these serious attacks against the civilian population.

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