DRC, Rwanda Agree to Produce Draft Comprehensive Peace Agreement by May 2

Addis Ababa, April 26, 2025 (ENA) --- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a Declaration of Principles in Washington, the United States on Friday, marking a significant step toward restoring peace in eastern Congo, a region long plagued by conflict.

The declaration was signed by DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe, in a ceremony attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The declaration of principles commits both parties to mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and an end to support for armed groups destabilizing the region.

The two sides agreed to produce a draft comprehensive peace agreement by May 2, underlining the urgency of translating these principles into concrete commitments.

Eastern DRC has been mired in decades of conflict, particularly offensives by the March 23 Movement (M23), a rebellion Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting.

Rwanda, for its part, denies any ties to the M23, instead accusing the Congolese army of collaborating with remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group implicated in the 1994 genocide.

The declaration also prioritizes the voluntary and secure return of displaced civilians and promotes a framework for regional economic integration.

Rwanda's foreign minister highlighted plans to strengthen economic cooperation through new regional value chains, including initiatives involving U.S. private sector investment.

Efforts to mediate peace in eastern Congo have become increasingly complex, with multiple initiatives led by different actors operating simultaneously.