Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern Congo by initialing a draft peace agreement, officials from both countries and the United States announced on Wednesday.
The provisional deal, reached after three days of negotiations, is expected to be formally signed at a ministerial level on June 27. The talks, supported by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, aim to end ongoing hostilities and open the door to substantial Western investment in the mineral-rich region.
According to a joint statement, the draft agreement addresses key issues including respect for territorial integrity, a prohibition of hostilities, and the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups. It also includes provisions for a joint security mechanism, building on proposals previously discussed under Angolan mediation.
Eastern Congo has been plagued by violence involving multiple armed groups, notably the M23 rebel group, which the DRC accuses Rwanda of backing with troops and weapons, a charge Kigali denies. Rwanda insists its military actions are defensive, aimed at protecting its territory from Congolese forces and Hutu militias linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled in the past. Agreements reached under Angolan mediation last year on the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and joint operations against the Rwandan Hutu rebel group FDLR were never endorsed by both countries’ ministers. Angola officially stepped down from its role as mediator in March after repeated failed attempts to bring both sides together.
The recent escalation in violence, which saw M23 rebels seize two major cities in eastern Congo, had raised fears of a broader regional war. However, the new draft agreement signals renewed hope for a diplomatic resolution to a crisis that has displaced millions and destabilized one of Africa’s most resource-rich regions.
The U.S., a key backer of the talks, hopes the agreement will not only foster peace but also unlock billions in investment, particularly in critical minerals like cobalt, tantalum, lithium, gold, and copper, all vital for global energy and technology supply chains.
Written By Rodney Mbua
