The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to an initial economic pact in Washington, marking a key step in a U.S.-backed effort to stabilize relations between the two neighboring countries and promote regional development.
According to a joint statement released on Friday, technical teams from both governments initialed the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) after meetings overseen by U.S. officials.
The framework outlines priority areas for economic cooperation and development, forming a cornerstone of a broader peace initiative led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The REIF outlines key areas for fostering economic cooperation and development between the two nations,” the U.S. State Department said following a meeting of the joint oversight committee.
The formal signing of the agreement is expected to take place at the White House, though the date remains uncertain.
While the two presidents were tentatively scheduled to meet on November 13, diplomatic sources said the plan had not been finalized.
Implementation of the framework depends on the successful execution of earlier security commitments under the Washington Peace Agreement.
This includes, the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo and operations by the Congolese army to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group composed of remnants of Rwanda’s former army and militias involved in the 1994 genocide.
In June, the foreign ministers of both countries signed the peace deal in Washington, pledging to fully implement a 2024 agreement that required Rwanda to lift its defensive measures in eastern Congo within 90 days.
However, progress has lagged, with both sides missing several deadlines.
“The committee recognized lagging progress and committed to redouble efforts to implement the Washington peace agreement,” Friday’s statement said, adding that specific near-term actions related to military activity had been agreed upon.
The pact forms part of Trump’s wider strategy to broker peace in the Great Lakes region and attract billions of dollars in Western investment to an area rich in minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium.
Last month, the two nations failed to sign the economic pact as originally planned, a setback in Washington’s mediation efforts.
However, U.S. officials say the initialing of the REIF now signals renewed commitment from both sides to advance the peace and integration process.
Reuters earlier reported that the REIF will serve as the economic pillar of the U.S.-facilitated peace deal, complementing ongoing security measures designed to end decades of cross-border conflict and instability.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
