Despite the Dec. 4 ratification of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity to bring an end to the ongoing violence between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, fighting between the two countries resumed and intensified throughout the month, violating the agreement.
On Dec. 9, Rwandan forces and the Congolese Rwandan-backed rebel paramilitary group, the March 23 Movement (M23), entered Uvira — the second-largest city in the South Kivu province — and attacked with drones, killing at least 74 civilians and wounding at least 83. By the next day, the offensive had taken over the city, resulting in the displacement of 200,000 people.
In the Dec. 12 United Nations Security Council meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated that diplomatic efforts and the hope generated by them are at risk due to the continuation of violence and constant ceasefire violations.
“The growing gap between political commitments and their effective implementation on the ground undermines the credibility of the peace processes, weakens trust among the parties and fuels the sense of abandonment felt by civilians,” Lacroix said.
The Washington Accords further build on a peace agreement signed in June 2025, which called for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to the Congolese government’s support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia.
They also include the Nov. 7 Regional Economic Integration Framework, which aims to foster economic cooperation between neighboring countries and enable investors from the United States to source from the region. Additionally, there is the April 25 Declaration of Principles, promoting peace between the two countries, as well as bilateral agreements between both countries and the U.S.
Since the bloodshed, displacement and sexual violence have persisted, Javid Abdelmoneim, international president of Doctors Without Borders, says civilians must be protected and provided with humanitarian assistance, as the alleged commitment to peace covers up the tragic conditions in DRC.
“It is increasingly clear that ongoing peace efforts are serving to consolidate the extractive interests of powerful actors rather than to bring relief to the people of DRC,” Abdelmoneim said in an address to the UN Security Council. “None of this is new. The violence communities face is rooted in decades of resource predation and structural neglect.
Plagued By Exploitation
Congo is considered the richest country in the world in terms of natural resources due to the abundance of minerals such as uranium, cobalt and coltan. Its untapped resources are estimated to be worth $24 trillion. More than 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves are in the DRC, making it the largest producer of the mineral.
Due to cobalt’s critical role in making rechargeable batteries for electric cars or mobile devices, Congo’s mines are incredibly attractive to investors like technology companies.
Even though the country is rich in resources, it has one of the poorest populations in the world. An estimated 73.5% of the DRC’s population lived on less than $2.15 per day in 2024, according to the International Widows and Orphans Fund (IWOF).
“When we say free Congo, [we’re] talking about freeing Congo from exploitation, freeing Congo from extraction, freeing Congo from poverty,” said Maurice Carney, executive director at Friends of the Congo.
Congo has been exploited for its resources since it was under Belgian rule before its independence in 1960. This has followed the country through its history, being one of the many factors that exacerbate its instability, as armed forces have historically controlled mineral-rich Congolese regions, causing conflicts over land ownership.
An estimated 40,000 children, some as young as 6 years old, work in the Congo’s mines under harsh conditions such as incredibly small spaces, exposure to toxic chemicals and the risk of serious physical— sometimes fatal— injuries. These circumstances have made advocates skeptical of foreign investors and the United State’s intentions behind its peace deal.
“So big companies are behind this internationally because they want to get all these minerals … at a cheaper price,” said Samuel Yagase, a grassroots leader fighting for justice in the DRC. “So maintaining instability is a strategy for them.”
Abdelmoneim believes true progress cannot be made in the DRC until people are safe and back in their homes. He condemned the Security Council for the lack of meaningful protection of civilian lives, equating it to a lack of understanding of the harsh realities the people of the Congo face.
“This is the enduring tragedy: generation after generation of Congolese have seen their lives and dignity sacrificed at the altars of politics and profit,” Abdelmoneim said. “Until civilians are no longer treated as expendable, no political process will bring real relief.”