Rwanda, DR Congo Reach Draft Peace Deal to End Decades-Long Conflict.
By Caroline Ameh
In a potential milestone for regional stability, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to a draft peace deal aimed at ending years of deadly conflict in eastern Congo and restoring order to the mineral-rich Great Lakes region.
The agreement, mediated by the United States and Qatar, outlines terms for the “disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration” of armed groups operating in the mineral-rich but volatile region. The deal also proposes the establishment of a joint security mechanism to forestall future hostilities.
According to the U.S. State Department, technical teams from both countries initialled the draft text on Wednesday after three days of “constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests” in Washington, D.C. The formal signing of the peace accord is scheduled for next Friday, and will be witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
If implemented, the deal could pave the way for billions of dollars in Western investment in eastern DR Congo, an area rich in coltan and other critical minerals essential to the global electronics industry.
However, analysts have urged caution, noting that many questions remain about the deal’s specifics and how it will be enforced.
The new draft builds upon a previous agreement signed in late April, also in Washington, where both nations pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and committed to delivering a comprehensive peace framework within days.
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated dramatically earlier this year when the M23 rebel group—which Kinshasa claims is backed by Rwanda—seized large swathes of territory in eastern Congo. M23 forces captured the key cities of Goma in January and Bukavu soon after, establishing their own administrative structures in the captured areas.
Rwanda has denied any support for the M23, instead defending its military presence in eastern DR Congo as a necessary response to threats from the FDLR—a rebel faction composed largely of ethnic Hutus with ties to the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The conflict has had devastating humanitarian consequences, with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in recent months. In response to the escalating crisis, the Congolese government turned to the U.S., reportedly offering access to strategic mineral resources in exchange for diplomatic and security support.
Efforts to reach a lasting peace have failed in the past. In 2024, Rwanda and DR Congo twice reached agreements under Angolan mediation, calling for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and joint action against the FDLR. However, those deals fell apart after ministers from both sides failed to endorse the arrangements, and Angola withdrew as mediator in March 2025.
Whether this latest U.S.- and Qatar-backed initiative will break the cycle of failed agreements and bring enduring peace remains to be seen.
