Four months after its launch, operation against FDLR stalls

Nearly four months after the launch of the FARDC operation against the FDLR on March 30 in Kisangani, no official report shows significant progress. The FDLR strongholds in North Kivu are in areas controlled by the AFC/M23, preventing FARDC deployment. The repatriation of voluntary fighters requires coordination between the DRC, Rwanda, and international partners, but mistrust between Kinshasa and Kigali persists. Neutralizing the FDLR is a key commitment of the Washington agreement, but only shared political will can unlock the situation.