One year after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington, residents of eastern Congo say little has changed on the ground.
The agreement, signed under the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump, raised hopes that decades of conflict in the mineral-rich region would finally give way to stability. But in Goma, a strategic city that remains under the control of the M23 rebel group, many residents say violence continues unabated.
"When they went to sign the agreement, we were happy because we thought the war would come to an end," said Delphin Kulongwa, a resident of Goma. "But on the ground, it's the opposite. We continue to suffer. These agreements have produced absolutely no results."
His frustration is shared by many in the city.
"The DRC and Rwanda signed the agreement, but since we heard about it a year ago, nothing has changed," said another resident, Elysé Gisanagabo. "They sign these agreements and come back without any tangible solution."
