The leaders are set to finalise the Washington Accord, a US-brokered peace deal aimed at ending years of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The signing ceremony, scheduled for December 4, follows months of intensive diplomatic efforts led by President Trump and comes after the initial agreement was reached in June. In addition to the peace accord, the two leaders are expected to ratify a Regional Economic Integration Framework that was negotiated last month.
Relations between Rwanda and the DRC have been strained for years. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which controls key eastern cities, including Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations, instead accusing the DRC of harbouring the FDLR, a militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and urging the DRC to resolve its internal security issues independently.
The Washington Agreement outlines the neutralisation of the FDLR and the lifting of Rwanda's defensive border measures.
President Kagame recently emphasised that lasting peace will require commitment from all parties involved.
"Some of these processes will not work not just because we are meeting in Washington or the powerful United States is involved, but until those people concerned directly are committed to achieving end results," he said.
The upcoming signing in Washington is being closely watched as a crucial step toward stabilising eastern Congo and strengthening regional cooperation in the Great Lakes region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
