DRC National Assembly Adopts Washington Accords Ratification Bills; Sends to Senate — Positive Step for DRC–Rwanda Peace Process

On April 28, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo's National Assembly adopted the bills for ratification of the Washington Accords — the peace and strategic partnership agreement signed December 4, 2025, covering both a DRC–Rwanda peace framework and a DRC–US strategic minerals partnership. The near-unanimous vote sent the ratification texts to the Senate for a second reading, signaling the DRC government's domestic commitment to the peace process despite continued frustration over Rwanda's compliance failures. Deputy Singoma Mwanza stated the vote 'signals commitment to peace in eastern DRC.' The ratification progress comes after a difficult period: the 5th Joint Oversight Committee meeting on April 23 saw the US press Rwanda over what officials described as 'deeply disappointing' compliance — Rwanda has not withdrawn troops from eastern DRC and the FDLR disarmament (a Rwandan precondition) has not proceeded. Nevertheless, the DRC Assembly's affirmative vote represents a significant domestic legal step: if the Senate ratifies, the accords gain full domestic legal standing in the DRC, increasing international pressure on Rwanda to demonstrate equivalent commitment. The Washington Accords are the primary diplomatic framework for ending the M23 conflict in eastern DRC, where more than 7 million people remain displaced. The DRC Assembly ratification occurs within a broader context of fragile ceasefire monitoring: the DRC–M23 Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism (COVM) has been active since mid-April, though prisoner releases originally due April 28 remain pending. Radio Okapi, the UN-supported broadcaster in DRC, confirmed the Assembly adoption. Both the DRC and Rwanda must ratify and implement the accords fully for the framework to produce durable peace.