U.S Secretary of State to grace the ultimate DR Congo and Rwanda peace agreement in Washington
Technical delegations from the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have initiated a provisional peace agreement following three days of closed-door talks in Nairobi, attended by representatives from the United States.
The event was witnessed by U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, in preparation for the Ministerial signing of the Peace Agreement on June 27, 2025, which is to be graced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
But the formal signing of the agreement is set to take place in Washington with other high-level US government auspices to be in attendance.
Building on the Declaration of Principles signed on April 25, 2025, the Agreement was developed over three days of constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests.
The Agreement includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups; establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism that incorporates the concepts of operations of October 31, 2024; facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as humanitarian access; and a regional economic integration framework.
A joint security mechanism has also been established to oversee the implementation of the agreement, building upon proposals previously discussed during Angolan-mediated negotiations.
This initialing marks the culmination of prolonged diplomatic efforts led by the U.S amid escalating tensions in the region due to the military expansion of the M23 armed group, which has seized strategic territories in eastern Congo.
Washington has stipulated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese soil as a fundamental condition for finalizing the deal.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for major international investments in eastern Congo’s mineral-rich territories, as the US prioritizes securing access to these critical resources amid global competition over energy and digital transition materials.
Next steps include the formal signing ceremony with senior officials from the concerned states, while implementation faces security and operational challenges requiring regional consensus and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with the agreed terms.
As part of the ongoing coordination between the facilitation efforts of the United States of America and the State of Qatar, the State of Qatar participated in these discussions to ensure complementarity and alignment between both countries’ initiatives aimed at dialogue and peace in the region.
Both the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation for the valuable contributions and joint efforts of the United States and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution.