But tensions that erupted early 2022 between the two neighbors derailed much of that progress. Some projects were suspended, while others slowed to a near standstill.
Among the most affected were the joint construction of a major hydroelectric plant, conservation of the Virunga parks, gold refining agreements, petroleum exploration in Lake Kivu, and the planned model village in Goma.
The Ruzizi III power plant
One of the flagship projects delayed by the diplomatic fallout is the Ruzizi III hydropower station, a joint initiative of Rwanda, the DRC, and Burundi.
In 2016, the three countries agreed to harness the Ruzizi River to produce 147 megawatts of electricity. Backed by the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank, the project was valued at $450 million and was expected to be completed by 2024.
However, regional disputes disrupted cooperation, causing repeated delays. Costs have since ballooned to an estimated $800 million. Earlier this month, Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, inspected the site and announced that construction will formally begin in January 2026 and conclude by 2030.
Each partner country will contribute around $266 million and receive roughly 68 megawatts of power.
Park conservation efforts
In 2014, Rwanda, the DRC, and Uganda signed a pact to protect the Virunga mountain range and surrounding parks, an area spanning over 7,900 square kilometers.
Through the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), the countries sought to coordinate anti-poaching operations and counter armed groups destabilizing the region, such as the FDLR.
Those efforts stalled after hostilities resumed. In October 2022, Kinshasa accused Rwanda of smuggling gorillas and monkeys, allegations Rwanda's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Robert Kayinamura, dismissed as 'a colonial mindset.'
'For the past 28 years, Rwanda has been blamed for everything; lack of water, lack of electricity, lack of roads,' he said. 'We need to move beyond this mentality and focus on real solutions.'
Gold refining agreement
The DRC, home to vast mineral wealth, has long struggled to add value to its resources due to limited refining capacity. In contrast, Rwanda operates the Gasabo Gold Refinery in Kigali.
In June 2021, the two countries signed an agreement allowing Congolese gold to be processed in Rwanda through a partnership between Sakima (Socièté Aurifère du Kivu et Maniema), a state-owned company in the DRC, and Rwanda's Dither Ltd.
But just a year later, after M23 rebels seized Bunagana, Kinshasa suspended the deal, accusing Rwanda of backing the rebels; allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
Goma's model village
The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in May 2021 destroyed more than 1,000 homes on the outskirts of Goma. In a gesture of solidarity, President Paul Kagame visited the area and pledged to help rebuild, promising a modern settlement similar to Rwanda's Kinigi model village in Musanze.
Congolese officials later toured Kinigi to study its design, and it was agreed that Rwanda would supply construction materials. The model village, estimated to cost over 26 billion Rwandan francs, was to be inaugurated on July 4, 2022.
By then, however, relations had soured, leading to setbacks in the implementation of the project.
Lake Kivu oil exploration
In 2017, Rwanda and the DRC signed an agreement to jointly explore petroleum deposits in Lake Kivu. The deal followed discussions between the two presidents in 2016 and aimed to identify reserves, estimate quantities, and plan for joint exploitation.
Following the Bunagana crisis, Kinshasa suspended cooperation and accused Kigali of supporting M23 rebels. Rwanda proceeded with exploration on its side of the lake. In January 2025, Kigali announced it had identified 13 potential petroleum blocks.
The discovery angered Kinshasa, prompting Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka to instruct her Minister of Hydrocarbons, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, to demand explanations from Rwanda Mining Board (RMB).
A path to reconciliation?
Since 2022, Angola and other mediators have attempted to restore relations. In September of that year, Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi last met in New York, with President Emmanuel Macron of France facilitating talks.
In March 2025, the United States helped broker a peace framework, culminating in a June 27 agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
If relations improve, key joint projects including Ruzizi III, cross-border conservation and mineral processing could be revived, renewing hopes of regional integration.
Jean de Dieu Tuyizere
