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Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty and draft a peace deal by May 2, 2025, in a bid to ease tensions after months of conflict.
The agreement was signed by the two countries’ foreign ministers in Washington, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio witnessing the ceremony on Friday.
According to the BBC, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced as M23 rebels — allegedly backed by Rwanda — have seized swathes of mineral-rich territory in eastern DRC.
Facing significant territorial losses, Kinshasa reportedly sought US assistance in exchange for access to its vast mineral resources.
Relations between the two countries had been strained to the breaking point, making the Washington meeting and commitment to dialogue a notable diplomatic breakthrough.
The agreement indicates both countries now anticipate significant investments facilitated by the US government and private sector.
However, despite the signing, fighting continued on Friday in North Kivu province, underscoring the fragile nature of the peace process.
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Earlier this week, both DRC and the M23 rebels expressed their commitment to peace and voiced hope for a permanent ceasefire.
Officials in eastern DRC estimate that around 7,000 people have been killed since January as the decades-long conflict escalated.
M23 staged an unprecedented offensive earlier this year, capturing Goma and Bukavu — the two largest cities in eastern Congo — raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The DRC government accuses Rwanda of arming the M23 and providing direct military support, a claim denied by Kigali despite supporting evidence presented by the UN and US.
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