Amnesty International Criticizes DR Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal for Overlooking Justice

Amnesty International Criticizes DR Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal for Overlooking Justice
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Amnesty International has condemned the recently signed peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda for failing to address accountability for serious crimes committed in eastern Congo, Anadolu Agency reported. The deal, signed on June 27 in Washington DC by the foreign ministers of both countries, aims to end ongoing hostilities but does not include provisions to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable.

Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, emphasized that ignoring impunity perpetuates a cycle of violence that continues to harm civilians. “Without addressing impunity for the horrific crimes committed in eastern DRC, the agreement missed an opportunity to decisively tackle a long-standing driver of the conflict,” she said.

Since the peace deal’s signing, credible reports indicate that clashes between the M23 rebel group and pro-government militia Wazalendo persist in North and South Kivu provinces, resulting in civilian deaths. Amnesty also highlighted ongoing abductions of young men by M23, urging both Rwanda and the DRC to pressure armed groups to prioritize civilian protection.

The M23 rebels have denied allegations of abuses and abductions, calling them deliberate attempts to damage their reputation. Conflict in eastern Congo has displaced over 500,000 people and killed more than 3,000 by February 2025, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The Congo River Alliance, a rebel coalition including M23, described the US-brokered deal as a limited but useful step toward peace.