Kenyan legal scholar PLO Lumumba has expressed doubts over the recent peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signed in Washington, United States, in a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump, Kenya’s William Ruto, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, DRC’s Félix Tshisekedi, and Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Lumumba suggested the deal may not yield lasting results.
“The agreement between President Kagame and President Tshisekedi was dead on arrival,” Lumumba stated, questioning the reliance on foreign mediation for African conflicts.
He added that solutions imposed from outside the continent often fail to address the underlying issues and reflect a deeper challenge of African leaders deferring to external powers.
Lumumba highlighted the DRC as an example of unresolved regional instability, noting that African nations frequently struggle to resolve their own disputes.
“We are our worst enemies. The Congo situation shows our inability to tackle problems internally. Leaders often appear as puppets with unseen actors influencing outcomes from outside the continent,” he said.
The peace deal, brokered in Washington, aims to reduce tensions along the Rwanda-DRC border and curb rebel activity in eastern DRC. Despite regional optimism, Lumumba’s remarks underscore ongoing skepticism regarding the sustainability of agreements facilitated by non-African powers.
Kenya has historically played a mediating role in regional conflicts, including through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its participation in East African Community security initiatives.
While leaders at the signing welcomed the agreement as a step toward peace, Lumumba urged African countries to strengthen internal mechanisms for conflict resolution
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