By Ollus Ndomu
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement pledging to respect each other’s sovereignty and work toward a full peace deal by May 2, following months of deadly conflict fueled by the resurgence of the M23 rebel movement.
The agreement, signed Friday by the foreign ministers of both countries in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to end hostilities that have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in eastern DR Congo. The ceremony marked a rare moment of diplomatic progress in a war that has threatened to destabilize the broader Great Lakes region.
“This is a significant step toward restoring peace, security, and stability,” Secretary Rubio said after the signing. “The United States stands ready to support both nations as they move forward.”
Under the deal, Rwanda and DR Congo committed to respecting each other’s territorial integrity and pledged to produce a draft comprehensive peace agreement within a week. In return, both governments anticipate major U.S.-facilitated investments to help rebuild conflict-affected areas, especially in DR Congo’s mineral-rich North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, reports of ongoing fighting on Friday in North Kivu cast a shadow over the event. Local sources said clashes between government forces and M23 rebels continued even as the agreement was being signed in Washington.
The DR Congo government had in recent months turned to the United States for security and economic support after losing large swathes of territory to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Mineral access particularly for critical resources like cobalt, lithium, and gold, has been a key factor in U.S. involvement.
Both sides acknowledged the complexity ahead. “Signing is not the end; it is the beginning of a difficult but necessary process,” said Christophe Lutundula, DR Congo’s foreign minister. Rwanda’s Vincent Biruta echoed the sentiment, stating: “We must restore trust, rebuild confidence, and commit to a peaceful future.”
The U.S. State Department said it would closely monitor the situation on the ground and that sustained U.S. private sector investment would depend on “measurable and verifiable” improvements in security and human rights.
For now, hopes for peace are tempered by the reality of continued violence, deep mistrust, and the enduring pull of the region’s lucrative minerals.
