The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, accused Rwanda of breaching the commitments outlined in the December 4 Washington peace agreements.
Speaking before Parliament in Kinshasa, Tshisekedi said Rwandan forces launched attacks with heavy weapons from Bugarama in southwestern Rwanda, causing significant human and material losses.
He accused Kigali of deliberately violating the ceasefire and refusing to withdraw troops from Congolese territory, in violation of the agreements mediated by the United States and Qatar.
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Tshisekedi emphasized that the DRC remains committed to diplomacy while defending its sovereignty and protecting its citizens. He described the ongoing clashes not as a civil war or internal dispute, but as an “aggression war” over strategic territories and critical mineral resources.
“Let no one be mistaken: this is not a local conflict or a simple rebellion. It is a war of aggression aimed at challenging our sovereignty over a territory rich in critical minerals with vital economic potential for our nation,” he said.
What’s Behind Washington’s Mediation
Trump has stated that the peace deal would open the door for U.S. access to critical minerals in both countries, highlighting the mineral-rich eastern DRC, which has been devastated by violence but contains essential resources for electric vehicle technologies.
This move is part of a broader pattern in which the former Republican president has secured opportunities for U.S. companies to profit from the extraction of rare minerals, including projects in Ukraine.
Qatar Participates in Signing Ceremony of Peace, Economic Agreement Between DRC and Rwanda in Washington
🔗To learn more : https://t.co/8psA1wSia4#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/RbHv9HFNyL
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) December 4, 2025
Fighting Escalates
Fighting with the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) has intensified over the past week. Rebels seized the town of Luvungi in South Kivu, near the Burundi border, forcing residents to flee to Sange, 30 kilometers away. At least 36 people were reported killed during the attacks.
The Red Cross reported that 21 injured individuals, including seven minors, were transferred to Uvira General Reference Hospital. Since 1998, eastern DRC has endured persistent conflict fueled by rebel groups and government forces, despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.
The peace accords also call for the dismantling of foreign militias, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), composed of Hutu members involved in the 1994 genocide, as well as the establishment of a joint security mechanism and a regional economic integration framework.
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