Hundreds of Congolese citizens took to the streets of Butembo, in North Kivu province, to demand an immediate end to the protracted war devastating their region.

The demonstration, organized by civil society groups, comes as Goma, the provincial capital, marks three months under rebel control. Protesters, carrying placards calling for peace and chanting slogans in favor of national unity, expressed strong support for a preliminary U.S.-brokered agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

The accord, signed in Washington on Friday, is aimed at de-escalating tensions and potentially opening the door to a broader peace deal.

Conflict in eastern Congo has claimed an estimated six million lives since the mid-1990s, following the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, leaving a trail of humanitarian crises and displacement.

The rally in Butembo reflects mounting public pressure on both national and international actors to prioritize peace and uphold the sovereignty of the Congolese people.

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