Trump stopped seven wars in eight months, but one of them is “in conflict again”

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has once again become the center of conflict. The country’s army and the Rwanda-backed rebels of the “March 23 Movement” are strengthening their military positions, accusing each other of violating peace agreements. This could lead to a resumption of the conflict, which U.S. President Donald Trump had declared ended.

Deepening Conflict

In January and February 2025, the rebels captured two significant cities, posing the most serious threat to the government in Kinshasa in the past two decades. Negotiations supported by the U.S. and Qatar led to a fragile truce, which can already be considered at risk of collapse. The rebels are demanding the release of prisoners before new negotiations begin and insist on power-sharing in the territories they control. The government, led by Felix Tshisekedi, is skillfully countering and is not ready to make concessions.

Situation on the Fronts

According to the latest data, both sides are deploying troops to areas near the conflict in the east, which border Rwanda and Burundi. Temporary agreements were only created to avoid violence, leaving the situation extremely tense. According to UN data, hundreds of cases of extrajudicial killings and violence committed by both sides have been documented since the signing of the peace agreements.

These facts confirm the complexities of the peace process, in which international players are actively involved.

Since June of this year, attempts by American mediators to establish contact between Congo and Rwanda continue, despite sharp reactions from those who claim Rwanda supports the rebels. Parallel to this, Qatar’s initiative is ongoing, but agreements beyond September have not yet been reached.

Professor Kristof Titeca notes that there are no prospects for peace due to the expiration of the terms of the agreement with the U.S.

Resource Reserves as a War Goal

The causes of the conflict have deep historical roots, going back to the events of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when millions of people became refugees or were killed. As a result, the survivors have posed problems for the Congolese people for years.

The DSOR group periodically attacks the population, nurturing fallen wars. “M23” is the latest formation whose actions vividly show that the struggle for control over natural resources remains in the spotlight.

Resource Export and International Interests

Rwanda denies any connection with the rebels, while accusing Congo of using “M23” to loot mineral resources. Shifting responsibility for mass crimes, the country’s army mentions protecting its own interests.

Every time, even when peace is mentioned, confirmed facts of continued looting of natural resources are carefully documented. Authoritative sources report the export of gold and coltan ores in significant volumes through Rwanda.

In conflict zones like Walikale, the proportions of violence are constantly increasing, and the government is trying to regain control on the ground with the help of foreign contractors.

Trump’s Statements on Peace

From Donald Trump, optimistic claims about ending wars in various regions occasionally appear. In a recent interview, the president stated that he managed to resolve six or even seven conflicts in just a few months. However, many hear about these peace agreements for the first time.

Some conflicts mentioned by the White House extend to multiple countries, including recent statements about the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, where obvious misunderstandings in name distortions are noted.