The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) east has long been the stage for one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts. The return of the M23 rebel group in 2021 reignited fighting, displacing more than 1.5 million people and destabilising a region already on edge. Peace agreements have been signed time and again, but why do they so often fail to hold?
An M23 fighter collects phones during an enrollment of civilians, police, and former FARDC members into the M23 movement. (Photo: Jospin Mwisha/AFP)
Why peace agreements collapse
The DRC’s peacebuilding record highlights a recurring problem: agreements on paper rarely translate into stability on the ground. Ceasefires collapse because there are few effective enforcement mechanisms, and fighters often use “peace periods” to rearm and reposition. Trust between the government and rebels is almost non-existent, and accusations of foreign support for armed groups further poison the atmosphere.
Without this foundation, every truce risks becoming another temporary pause in fighting.
Conflict without borders
Instability in eastern Congo does not remain confined to its borders. Refugees have streamed into Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, straining host communities and fuelling diplomatic rifts. Cross-border accusations particularly between Kinshasa and Kigali have at times escalated into open hostility.
Thousands have been forced to flee their homes as figting continues in Goma. Photo: Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua/IMAGO
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that violence in eastern DRC poses a threat to the entire Great Lakes region. If peace continues to falter, the ripple effects could undermine economic cooperation and security far beyond Congo’s borders.
The role of international players
Regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and East African Community (EAC) have tried to mediate, but progress has been slow. Divergent national interests whether linked to security, politics, or access to Congo’s vast mineral wealth often weaken collective action.
This has created space for global players. Qatar, for example, has stepped up as a quiet mediator, hosting negotiations between Congolese officials and rebels. The United Nations and European Union continue to provide humanitarian support and peacekeeping troops. Yet critics argue that without genuine local ownership, external interventions risk producing agreements that look good in headlines but crumble in practice.
The road ahead
The DRC’s struggle is a reminder that peace in conflict zones requires more than signatures. It needs trust, enforcement, and above all, regional cooperation. Until those ingredients are in place, eastern Congo and its neighbours will remain trapped in a cycle of fragile truces and renewed violence.