NEWS– The Government of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2nd 2025, committing to respect each other’s sovereignty and refraining from providing military support to armed groups.
The Democratic Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Ms Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe signed the agreement in a tense meeting in Washington, DC, in which the two did not shake hands.
The deal is part of diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, came two days after Qatar brokered an unexpected truce between the African nations.
The United States brought the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign together and voiced an interest in investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo turbulent but mineral-rich East, where fighting between government forces and M23 rebels has intensified since January and the M23 has captured key cities of Goma and Bukavu in a campaign that has left thousands dead.
The US and the United Nations experts claim that M23 is backed by Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied the charge, saying it is defending its security against hostile militias operating in Democratic Republic of Congo, including remnants of the Hutu-led group behind the 1994 genocide.
According to a joint declaration, signed in front of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the two sides pledged that would halt military support to non-state armed groups, though it avoided naming M23 directly.
Ms Kayikwamba Wagner later said the deal amounted to a commitment for Rwandan forces to withdraw, as outlined in a UN Security Council resolution.
“The good news is there is hope for peace. The real news – peace must be earned, and it will require seriousness, transparency and sincerity,” She said.
Rwanda Minister of Foreign Affairs Nduhungirehe said US President Donald Trump had made a “real change in the conversation” on Democratic Republic of Congo, including by drawing a link to efforts to expand US private-sector investment.
Secretary of State Rubio described the agreement as a “win-win”, suggesting it could unlock major US-backed investment in energy and mining areas where China already has significant influence.
A new US envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, recently visited both nations and urged Kigali to stop backing M23 and pull out troops.
Political analyst Martin Ziakwau Lembisa believes the US pressure pushed both governments towards diplomacy.
