The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity: Path or Barrier to Sustainable Peace in the DRC-Rwanda Conflict

The Washington Accords, initially signed on June 27, 2025, between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, mark a significant United States-brokered effort to address one of Africa’s most protracted and deadliest conflicts in the Great Lakes region. The subsequent December 2025 incorporation of the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) expanded the accords’ economic scope but did not resolve the structural flaws, as evidenced by continued M23 offensives and implementation failures. This article examines the Washington Accords to assess its prospect for delivering peace in the conflict-affected areas. The elite pact theory and a qualitative analytical approach are employed, drawing on official documents, expert commentary, reports to provide theoretical and interpretive depth, particularly in relation to the strategic security and mineral interests of the externally brokered parties. The accord provided for troop withdrawal, joint security coordination, refugee repatriation, and economic integration, but its structure excludes major non-state armed actors, contains limited enforcement and verification mechanisms, and prioritizes external economic interests over local accountability and inclusion. The article establishes that if these shortcomings are not addressed, the accord risks long-term failure and may follow the same pattern as previous peace agreements in the region. It therefore recommends dialogue with armed groups and the local communities, robust and independent monitoring mechanisms, and governance reform that addresses the underlying political and economic drivers of the conflict as necessary conditions for transforming the Accord into a framework for sustained peace.