The anticipated mid-June signing at the White House, aimed at achieving long lasting peace in eastern DRC, has been delayed to align with the complexities of ongoing negotiations.
In a statement shared on X, Minister Nduhungirehe explained that after several email exchanges between U.S., Congolese, and Rwandan officials, physical negotiations at the expert level have now commenced in Washington.
As he said, the goal is to craft a "comprehensive, realistic, and win-win peace agreement".
The minister emphasized that the draft agreement, once finalized by experts, will be submitted to the foreign ministers of both nations for approval before being presented to the heads of state for signing.
This development follows a U.S.-brokered Declaration of Principles signed on April 25, 2025, by the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC, which outlined a commitment to peace and economic cooperation.
The process leading up to the signing involves several prerequisites. Among them, the DRC is expected to address pressing security concerns affecting Rwanda, particularly the issue of the FDLR rebel group operating within Congolese territory.
The United States has also requested that Rwanda halt what it alleges to be support for the M23 rebel movementâ€"allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
At the same time, the DRC is expected to undertake internal reforms that promote more equitable distribution of resources across its provinces and strengthen local governance.
Once the agreement is signed, the U.S. is also expected to enter into economic agreements with both Rwanda and the DRC.
IGIHE
