United States announces 72-hour ceasefire in eastern DRC

The US National Security Council has declared a 72-hour ceasefire between Congolese security forces and rebel groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the American National Security Council, a ceasefire agreement has been reached in eastern DRC. This agreement, according to the American authority, aims to ease tensions during the course of the presidential elections and to facilitate the withdrawal of troops from the East African Community.

However, despite this statement, some rebel groups have expressed reservations and neither the Congolese nor the Rwandan government have officially commented on this American initiative.

Continued instability…

Instability still remains present in the east of the DRC. Despite this ceasefire announcement, concerns are not diminishing. Aware of the seriousness of the security situation in the eastern part of the country, President Félix Tshisekedi, candidate for his own succession, has already suggested that territories under rebel control could not be included in the electoral process for security reasons.

Recently, the United States has become more involved in relaunching dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda, particularly following the recent visit of Avril Haines, Director of American National Intelligence, who met Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame . This attempt at mediation took place in a context where relations between the two countries are tense, with each accusing the other of supporting hostile rebel groups.

On the UN side, a formal warning was sent to Kinshasa and Kigali against worsening tensions. The UN has also warned of the risk of an imminent military confrontation between the two nations.