Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will sign a peace agreement in Washington, says the US government.
The ceremony in Washington will be attended by Marco Rubio and includes provisions for the disarmament of armed groups, the return of refugees, and economic integration.
247 - The US State Department announced on Wednesday (18) that the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27. The pact is the result of three days of negotiations conducted in the US capital, with direct mediation from the US government and the participation of observers from Qatar.
According to an official statement released by the diplomacy of EUAThe agreement includes clauses aimed at ending the cycle of hostilities between the two neighboring countries, including "respect for territorial integrity, prohibition of armed actions, disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups." Furthermore, it provides for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as actions to promote regional economic integration.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group — relaunched in 2021 — maintains control of vast regions rich in mineral resources. According to allegations made by authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the European Union, and the United States, Rwanda has been supporting the rebels, a claim repeatedly denied by the Kigali government.
The M23 offensive has already caused the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of approximately one million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. The armed group, which claims to defend the interests of the Tutsi minority in Congo, even threatened to overthrow the government of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.
According to the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the signing ceremony of the agreement between the two foreign ministers. A meeting between the presidents of Rwanda and Congo is also scheduled. Washington, although the date has not yet been set.
The commitment was confirmed by Tina Salama, spokesperson for President Tshisekedi, via a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter). Rwanda's Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also ratified the information on the same platform.
