A PEACE deal to end the long-running conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be signed in Washington by mid-June, Rwanda’s foreign minister has revealed in comments to AFP.
The proposed agreement comes after months of intensified fighting between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group, which the United Nations and United States say has received military support from Rwanda. The group has made sweeping territorial gains since January 2025, igniting a humanitarian crisis and drawing international concern.
Speaking to AFP, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed that although the content of the agreement is still under negotiation, the peace process is advancing.
‘The next steps will involve consolidation of the contributions of the parties into a single text,’ he said. That unified draft will then be finalised by foreign ministers in Washington in the third week of May, he added. The plan is to formally sign the agreement at the White House in mid-June.
US mediation and strategic interests
The latest announcement follows US-led mediation efforts, raising questions about Washington’s vested interests in the mineral-rich region. Some analysts have pointed to the overlap between peace talks and discussions on mineral trade as evidence of deeper US engagement.
US special envoy for Africa, Massad Boulos, said on X (formerly Twitter) that he had received a draft proposal from both the DRC and Rwanda. ‘This is an important step toward fulfilling the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles,’ Boulos posted.
Boulos, who is also the father-in-law of President Donald Trump’s daughter Tiffany, visited both countries in April, urging Rwanda to withdraw troops and cease support for the M23.
A history of broken ceasefires
M23’s resurgence since 2021 has upended eastern Congo, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Despite multiple ceasefires over the past four years, none have held.
Rwanda continues to deny any direct involvement with the M23 but maintains that its security is threatened by militant groups operating in eastern Congo, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR, composed largely of Hutu militants linked to the 1994 genocide, has long been a source of regional instability.
The rapid advances of the M23 and the mounting toll of the conflict have drawn international pressure for a durable resolution. The current US-brokered initiative represents the most promising step toward peace in years.
If successfully signed in Washington, the deal would mark a major milestone in a crisis that has for too long devastated lives, eroded regional trust, and destabilised one of Africa’s most resource-rich zones.
