Last November, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, visited Kinshasa with an unusual proposal for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi. The U.S. offered to share secret intelligence in exchange for his cooperation in a cease-fire in the long-standing conflict in eastern DRC.
Haines promised to provide insights into the movements of the M23 rebel group, which is active in the mineral-rich region that has been plagued by violence for over 30 years. A similar offer was extended to Rwandan President Paul Kagame during a visit to Kigali, with U.S. and UN officials suggesting that Rwanda supports M23.
These meetings marked the beginning of a rare intelligence-sharing arrangement with both the DRC and Rwanda, part of the most significant Western effort in years to prevent further escalation in a conflict that has displaced over 2 million people. While U.S. officials see this as “intelligence diplomacy,” it has only resulted in a fragile cease-fire, with M23 continuing to gain ground and control much of the region’s coltan trade. Other valuable minerals, such as gold and tin, are reportedly smuggled into Rwanda.
Despite these efforts, tangible success remains elusive. The U.S. intelligence sharing has failed to fully halt M23’s advances, and the cease-fire remains unstable. Both the State Department and the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on these intelligence-sharing activities.
Rwandan officials, including government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, described the intelligence cooperation as “constructive,” while the DRC acknowledges the exchanges but notes they haven’t stopped M23’s recent attacks.
The increased violence in eastern DRC and ongoing tensions with Rwanda have further destabilized the region since M23 launched a major offensive in late 2021.
Stephanie Wolters, an analyst at the South African Institute of International Affairs, commented that while U.S. involvement hasn’t achieved a lasting peace, it represents one of the most sustained foreign efforts in recent times.
Haines’ visit was part of a broader strategy by President Joe Biden to involve the U.S. more directly in the DRC conflict ahead of its crucial elections in December. Following her visit, both the DRC and Rwanda committed senior officials to participate in weekly calls with U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, where concerns about troop movements and other activities are shared and verified to build trust between the parties.
While these efforts have helped prevent major hostilities since July, M23 continues to capture territory, and human rights abuses are still being reported. Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict has remained a point of frustration for U.S. officials, who view the country as an ally. Wolters expressed doubts about Rwanda’s commitment to peace, suggesting that they see the region as an area they can control.