By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

A professor at the China Africa Think Tank Research Center, Hui An, has warned that the US mediated Washington Agreement may face serious difficulties in delivering lasting peace due to unresolved core issues.

In a statement, Hui An said the December 4 peace deal, brokered by the United States to address long standing tensions in the Great Lakes region, is already showing signs of strain, citing renewed gunfire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo shortly after the agreement was signed.

He noted that deep rooted challenges such as territorial disputes, ethnic divisions and competition over mineral resources remain largely unaddressed, despite their central role in decades of conflict that have claimed millions of lives.

According to the scholar, the agreement did not clearly tackle critical matters including the disarmament of armed groups and the sharing of mineral development rights, issues that have undermined previous peace efforts.

Hui An further said that external involvement in African conflicts has often been shaped by economic and geopolitical interests rather than genuine concern for long term regional stability.

He stressed that sustainable peace can only be achieved through sincere dialogue, fair resource management and equal consultation among the parties involved, urging international actors to adopt an objective and impartial approach that prioritizes long term development and stability in Africa.