The signing followed a landmark ceremony earlier in the day in Washington, D.C., where Rwanda and the DRC formalised a US-brokered peace accord aimed at ending decades of conflict, enhancing regional security, and unlocking new opportunities for cooperation. The Washington Accord was witnessed by US President Donald Trump, President Paul Kagame, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, and several African and international leaders.
In addition to the peace compact, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, concluded two separate economic agreements: the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) with his DRC counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, and the Framework Between the United States and Rwanda for Shared Economic Prosperity with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreements are designed to accelerate economic integration and promote shared prosperity across the region.
Rwandaâ€"DRC economic integration framework
Minister Nduhungirehe said the newly signed REIF creates a structured platform for Rwanda and the DRC to make joint investments in five priority sectors: energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national park management and tourism, and public health.
He noted that the framework provides both countries with pathways to strengthen cross-border trade and cooperation, complementing the security commitments embedded in the Washington Accord.
'This agreement opens economic opportunities for Rwanda and the DRC to work together in a coordinated and mutually beneficial way,' Nduhungirehe said.
The economic components of the REIF align with the broader objectives of the Washington Accord, which emphasises regional economic integration as a foundation for durable peace.
Rwandaâ€"U.S. framework for shared economic prosperity
A second agreement signed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio establishes a bilateral framework for economic cooperation between Rwanda and the United States. The partnership focuses on mining and mineral processing, energy, and broader trade and investment promotion, operating outside the scope of the REIF.
The framework is expected to strengthen Rwanda's position as a reliable partner in critical mineral supply chains and expand American investment opportunities in the country.
The peace and economic agreements come at a pivotal moment as Rwanda and the DRC seek to turn the page on three decades of instability in eastern Congo. During the signing of the Washington Accord, President Trump hailed the development as 'a great day for Africa,' underscoring the accord's potential to bring lasting stability and unlock new economic prospects.
President Kagame emphasised that the success of the agreement and the new economic frameworks rests primarily with African leadership and commitment.
'Rwanda will not be found wanting,' he said, reaffirming Rwanda's readiness to play its part decisively.
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi described the accord and its accompanying frameworks as a turning point that offers a pathway out of the 'cycle of violence, mistrust, and forced displacement' that has long affected both nations.
By committing to deeper cooperation in sectors ranging from energy to mineral supply chains, Rwanda, the DRC, and the United States aim to lay the groundwork for a more stable, interconnected, and prosperous Great Lakes region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
