Rwanda Misses DRC Troop Withdrawal Deadline Amidst Continued Fighting

Rwanda has failed to meet the July 15 deadline for withdrawing its forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, despite assurances made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in early June. Rubio had expressed hope for a withdrawal by mid-July during a budget hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States.

As of July 15, no official disengagement of the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) has been observed in areas controlled by the AFC/M23. Fighting persists in the region, even as diplomatic initiatives push for de-escalation. Both Kinshasa and Kigali continue to exchange accusations of failing to uphold their commitments under a peace agreement signed in Washington.

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What reading should be made of the non-respect of this deadline for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the DRC by mid-July 2026?

The agreement stipulated that Kigali would lift its defense measures, including the withdrawal of its forces from Congolese territory. In return, Kinshasa was expected to take steps to neutralize Rwandan rebels from the FDLR. The failure to adhere to the troop withdrawal deadline raises significant questions about the path forward for security in eastern DRC.

Discussions involving Joseph Nkoy, a national deputy and member of the Union sacrée de la nation, Augustin Bisimwa, secretary general of the MDVC political party, and Reagan Miviri, a lawyer and researcher at Ebuteli, aim to analyze the implications of Rwanda's non-compliance and the evolving security situation.

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And what do you think of the evolution of the security situation in the East of the DRC?