The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a new agreement pledging to respect each other’s borders and work out a peace plan within days, in a move seen as a significant step toward ending months of heightened conflict.
The agreement was signed on Friday in Washington, United States, by DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe. The signing was witnessed by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Speaking after the ceremony, Wagner stated, “This agreement is a new step toward peace between our two nations.” Nduhungirehe added, “We are committed to dialogue and peaceful solutions.”
As part of the agreement, both countries committed to producing a draft peace deal by May 2, 2025.
Relations between DR Congo and Rwanda have sharply deteriorated in recent months, largely due to intensifying clashes between Congolese government forces and M23 rebels, who are reportedly backed by Rwanda. The M23 insurgents have seized large portions of the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The ongoing fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and led to significant loss of life. Officials report that approximately 7,000 people have been killed in eastern DR Congo since January 2025 alone.
Following significant territorial losses to the rebels, the Kinshasa government sought assistance from the United States, offering access to Congo’s vast mineral resources in return. The agreement signed in Washington also outlines expectations for major investments by the US government and private companies in both DR Congo and Rwanda.
However, even as the diplomatic accord was being finalized, fighting reportedly continued in North Kivu province on Friday, underscoring the fragility of the situation.
Earlier this week, both the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group expressed a willingness to pursue peace, raising hopes for a potential ceasefire.
DR Congo has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels by supplying arms and deploying Rwandan troops to fight alongside them. These allegations have been backed by both the United Nations and the United States, though Rwanda continues to deny any involvement.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo has escalated dangerously this year, fueling fears of a wider regional war. Despite these challenges, the Washington agreement is viewed as an encouraging move towards a peaceful resolution.
