Joshua Walker warns of deeper m23 entrenchment in eastern drc amid stalled peace process

During a recent online discussion hosted by journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, researcher Joshua Z. Walker shared a sobering assessment regarding the protracted peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Walker, an Associate Fellow with Chatham House’s Africa program and a Senior Fellow at New York University’s (NYU) Center on International Cooperation, expressed caution while outlining potential outcomes should Washington’s engagement wane amid the ongoing stalemate.

“I am no prophet,” Walker initially stated, yet he presented two possible scenarios. The first envisions a regression to the pre-2025 period, prior to the significant involvement of American diplomacy in the region’s affairs. The second, and more concerning, anticipates a continuation of the current deadlock.

This latter possibility deeply troubles the expert. He emphasized, “Even without an explicit M23 withdrawal, each passing day that the M23 maintains its occupation of eastern Congolese territories, they further solidify their presence.”

According to Walker, the mere passage of time acts as a critical exacerbating factor. He articulated his primary concern: “The fear is that simply by the passage of time, we will reach a point where, de facto, a portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo remains entirely outside government control.”