The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has confirmed he spoke with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to commend the recent progress made on peace agreements between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Lammy emphasized the importance of fully implementing the commitments by all parties involved.
He highlighted that the peace deal — alongside the ongoing negotiations between M23 rebels and the DRC government in Qatar — presents a rare opportunity for sustainable peace and development in the Great Lakes region.
In February this year, Lammy visited both Kigali and Kinshasa to meet Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi as part of the UK’s diplomatic push for regional stability.
That same month, the UK had issued a warning of potential sanctions against Rwanda if it failed to take “tangible steps,” including the withdrawal of its troops from eastern DRC.
President Kagame recently acknowledged that while several countries have previously attempted to mediate the conflict, it was former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration that made significant breakthroughs.
Lammy’s message on X (formerly Twitter) came shortly after a statement from the United Nations Security Council welcomed the steps taken in the peace process. The Council called on both Rwanda and the DRC to honor the agreements made, including compliance with Resolution 2773 passed in February.
Key Provisions of UN Resolution 2773:
Calls for M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from Goma, Bukavu, and all occupied territories.
Demands Rwanda halt support for M23 and immediately withdraw its forces from Congolese soil.
Condemns DRC’s military collaboration with armed groups like the FDLR and calls for its immediate cessation.
Urges both Rwanda and DRC to urgently resume diplomatic talks to achieve lasting peace.
Supports the continued operations of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) in eastern DRC.
However, both Kigali and Kinshasa have expressed skepticism over MONUSCO’s effectiveness in the region.
As diplomatic efforts led by Trump and Qatar gain momentum, Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to meet in Washington “in the coming weeks” for a final round of talks to reinforce the peace deal.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump stated: “I believe that in the next few weeks, they will come to sign the final peace agreement.” He stressed that his administration had succeeded in ending “a 30-year-long conflict.”
While signing the deal would be a landmark moment, analysts caution that the true test will be implementation — as past peace deals have often collapsed due to noncompliance.
The international community is closely watching the enforcement of both the Washington agreement and the parallel talks in Doha between Kinshasa and M23, which have largely been conducted behind closed doors.
