In a post on X on Saturday night, October 4, Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. was fully prepared to sign the framework, describing it as beneficial to both nations and the wider Great Lakes region.
'The Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. this week was ready to sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), which benefits both our countries and the region,' Makolo wrote.
'We are puzzled by the DRC's last-minute decision not to sign the agreement, given the positive atmosphere of the negotiations during which the text of the REIF was finalised, and the diligent mediation work of Senior Advisor Massad Boulos and the State Department.'
Makolo added that while progress had been made under the Peace Agreement signed in June, the DRC had refused to proceed with certain security commitments until specific actions discussed at the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) meeting earlier in the week were implemented.
That meeting, held on October 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C., brought together representatives from Rwanda, the DRC, the United States, Qatar, Togo (as the African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission.
According to a joint communiqué issued by the U.S. State Department, the parties discussed concrete steps to neutralise the FDLR militia group and advance the lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures in line with the peace roadmap. The FDLR was formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the Government of Rwanda maintains that the group's genocidal ideology poses a grave security threat to the Great Lakes region.
The Committee also finalised an Operation Order for the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism and confirmed October 1 as its start date, with both sides reaffirming commitments to refrain from hostile rhetoric.
However, the communiqué also acknowledged rising tensions in Uvira and Walikale, where the AFC/M23 rebel coalition continues to accuse the Kinshasa administration of targeting civilian populations through drone attacks despite a declared ceasefire. The Congolese government has also faced accusations of using foreign mercenaries in its conflict with the M23, in contradiction to ongoing peace efforts. The Committee urged calm and restraint by all actors, warning that renewed hostilities could undermine the fragile progress achieved through recent diplomacy.
Despite the setback on the REIF, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process and the U.S.-mediated approach.
'Rwanda believes in the peace agreement and in the approach of the U.S. mediation, and hopes that the REIF will eventually be signed,' Makolo said. 'The peace process must succeed. It is the best chance for stability and economic development for our region.'
A blueprint for shared prosperity
The Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), first announced in August 2025, was designed to strengthen economic cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC while supporting regional peace efforts.
The framework, finalised after the Washington Declaration of Principles and aligned with the June Peace Agreement, outlines joint commitments in key sectors, including mineral governance, energy, infrastructure, tourism, and public health.
Both countries had agreed to combat the illicit mineral trade, formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, and promote transparency in the critical minerals sector, including tin, tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and gold. The framework also envisions cooperation in energy generation through projects such as Ruzizi III and methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu, as well as infrastructure development linked to the Lobito Corridor.
Further provisions include collaboration on cross-border conservation, tourism, and public health, alongside expanded cooperation in sectors such as agribusiness, education, and ICT.
Officials had described the REIF as a 'living platform' for sustained economic collaboration, expected to complement security stabilisation under the Washington peace roadmap.
Hopes for renewed momentum
The DRC's hesitation to sign the REIF comes at a delicate time for regional diplomacy, as both nations work to implement the June 2025 Peace Agreement under U.S. mediation. The agreement's success is seen as crucial to stabilising eastern Congo and creating conditions for long-term economic recovery.
Rwanda has expressed optimism that the framework will eventually move forward. 'The peace process must succeed,' Makolo reiterated, framing economic integration as inseparable from the region's broader security and development goals.
The next Joint Oversight Committee meeting is expected to take place later this month following sessions of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, with hopes that discussions will restore momentum toward implementing both the peace and economic integration agreements.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
