Name: U.S. acknowledges setbacks in DRC-Rwanda deal, urges compliance
Uploaded: 2025-12-20T08:53:39.172Z
Duration: 1 min 22 s
Description: U.S. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio acknowledged the backsliding on a U.S.-mediated deal involving the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, saying his country was still focused on making the agreement work

U.S. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio acknowledged the backsliding on a U.S.-mediated deal involving the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, saying his country was still focused on making the agreement work

Washington

The United States has recognized challenges in the implementation of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Shortly after the deal was signed, Rwanda-backed rebels captured the town of Ovira, drawing criticism from Washington. 

U.S. officials highlighted that while commitments from both sides exist, they are not currently being met. The U.S. is working with both parties, as well as engaging bipartisan support in Congress, to push for compliance with the signed agreements. The rebels have since withdrawn from Ovira.

U.S. acknowledges setbacks in DRC-Rwanda deal, urges compliance

The U.S.'s top diplomat on Friday acknowledged the backsliding on a deal between Congo and Rwanda, saying his country was still focused on making the agreement work. Just days after signing the accord, Rwanda-backed rebels overran the town of Ovira, inviting a sharp rebuke from Washington. In the case of the DRC and Rwanda, we have signed commitments from both sides. Those commitments are not being met. But at least we have the signed commitments. We now can hold people to something and we can push them. And in that case, by the way, for example, in the case of Rwanda-DRC, as a good example, not only have we been engaged, but we have asked our friends on the Hill, both Republicans and Democrats, to also engage in conversations of their own with these leaders so they understand this is a bipartisan, multi-branch of government interest in this topic. But the good news about both of those is we have signed agreements. At least we have something we can push them towards compliance on. As I said, in many of these cases with peace, you sign a peace deal, there's compliance, something happens, they fall out of compliance, you've got to bring them back, you've got to try to push. But at least you have to, instead of negotiating something new, you're simply trying to now push people back to compliance with what they already agreed on. So I think these are achievements. The rebels have since withdrawn from Ovira, a city on the DRC's border with Burundi.

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