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The comeback this weekend ofover 300 Congolese refugeesFrom Kamanyola serves as a welcome reminder that peace, even if delicate, is still achievable. Every family returning with hope in their hearts demonstrates that the people of eastern DR Congo do not require much.

They only desire stability, respect, and the opportunity to live without the ongoing terror of gunfire. Their return sends a clear message: when weapons stop firing, even for a moment, people naturally long to go back home.

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However, this positive progress is occurring amid a concerning situation. Accounts of reckless strikes by groups supporting the Kinshasa government against M23 positions, which have led to numerous civilian casualties, threaten to push the region back into unnecessary hardship. These actions not only disrupt military stability but also erode trust at a time when trust is the most valuable asset for achieving peace.

This is why there’s still time for the Congolese government and its partners to make the correct choice. The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, finalized last week with hope and hailed as the most explicit path to ending years of conflict, were never meant to be just symbolic. They were designed as a legally binding promise to adopt a new approach to settling disputes, where conversation is prioritized over force and the safety of ordinary people is always the top concern.

The same determination drives the Doha process, in which officials from the Kinshasa government and the M23 group have been engaging in discussions to reach a long-term resolution to the conflict. Although these negotiations are not flawless or straightforward, they continue to be the most reliable path toward a permanent agreement.

To undermine them by restarting conflicts would be to betray not only the wording of these accords, but their fundamental intent.

The authorities in Kinshasa should therefore avoid the lure of yielding to political pressure or immediate military considerations that could hinder the delicate advancements achieved thus far. Peace is constructed in instances such as these, where leaders opt for self-control instead of retaliation and demonstrate insight rather than acting on impulse. The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly those who have faced years of displacement, deserve more than repeated cycles of optimism and despair.

Adhering to the commitments made in Washington and Doha is not a compromise with any militant group; it is a commitment to the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also reflects a recognition of regional accountability. Ongoing instability in the east not only harms Congolese people; it disrupts the peace and stability of neighboring countries such as Rwanda, which have repeatedly advocated for a principled and collaborative approach to resolving this crisis.

The chance remains open. It should not be wasted. Kinshasa and its partners should fully renew their commitment to the course they chose just weeks ago and behave in a manner that supports, rather than undermines, the hope for a peaceful and prosperous Great Lakes region. The people have demonstrated what they want. Now it is the responsibility of their leaders to match that bravery and provide the peace they truly need.

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Tagged: Congo-Kinshasa, Rwanda, Central Africa, East Africa

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