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Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have signed a landmark agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty and to finalise a draft peace deal by 2 May 2025.
The agreement was signed by the foreign ministers of both countries during a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The move comes after months of escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized large portions of mineral-rich territory, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Following major territorial losses to the rebels, the government in Kinshasa sought assistance from the United States, offering access to valuable minerals in return.
Despite the progress in diplomatic talks, fighting reportedly continued on Friday in North Kivu province.
Under the terms of the new agreement, both sides pledged to resolve disputes through dialogue and to avoid further violations of each other’s sovereignty.
The text also outlines expectations for significant investments into the region, facilitated by the U.S. government and private sector partners.
Relations between DR Congo and Rwanda have been severely strained for years, and Friday’s meeting marked a rare moment of cooperation, offering cautious hope for a reduction in tensions.
Meanwhile, officials in eastern DR Congo report that some 7,000 people have been killed since January as the conflict intensified.
M23 rebels, believed to be backed by Rwanda despite Kigali’s denials, now control Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in eastern Congo.
Earlier this week, both the DR Congo government and the M23 group expressed renewed commitment to peace, raising hopes that a permanent ceasefire could soon be reached.
The decades-long conflict over resources and regional influence continues to cause immense human suffering, but international efforts, including the Washington agreement, may provide a new path towards lasting peace.
