Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to a draft peace deal aimed at ending the violent conflict in eastern Congo, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday by both countries and the United States.
Technical teams from the two nations initialled the provisional agreement, which is expected to be formally signed next week following three days of negotiations.
The breakthrough could mark a significant step forward in efforts led by President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the fighting in eastern Congo. The region is rich in valuable minerals including tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium, and the peace deal could pave the way for billions of dollars of Western investment.
The provisional agreement addresses several critical issues that have fuelled the ongoing conflict. It includes commitments to respect territorial integrity and prohibit hostile actions between the two countries.
The deal also covers the withdrawal, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups operating in the region. Additionally, it establishes a joint security mechanism that builds on proposals discussed by both parties last year under Angolan mediation.
The ministerial signing of the agreement is scheduled for 27th June.
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Previous failed attempts at peace
This marks the third attempt to reach a lasting peace agreement between the two nations. Rwandan and Congolese experts successfully negotiated deals twice last year under Angola’s mediation, focusing on the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and joint operations against the Rwandan Hutu rebel group FDLR. However, ministers from both countries failed to endorse those agreements.
Angola stepped down from its role as mediator in March after several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the escalating conflict, which involves a Rwanda-backed rebel offensive in eastern Congo.
Fighting in eastern Congo has intensified this year as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched a major offensive that resulted in their capture of the region’s two largest cities. The advance has raised concerns about the possibility of a wider regional conflict.
Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 by providing troops and weapons to the rebel group.
Rwanda has consistently denied helping M23, claiming its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo’s army and ethnic Hutu militiamen. Rwanda says these militiamen are linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed approximately 1 million people, mostly ethnic Tutsis.
