Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has confirmed that a landmark peace agreement aimed at resolving the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be signed in mid-June in Washington, D.C.
The conflict, which intensified after M23 rebels—accused by both the United States and UN experts of receiving Rwandan military support—launched a major offensive in eastern DRC in January, has led to significant territorial gains by the fighters. These advances have sparked deadly clashes, displacing hundreds of thousands and causing thousands of deaths.
After recent talks in the United States, Rwanda and DRC officials agreed to a draft peace deal by May 2, raising hopes that the violence fueled by the M23 insurgency might soon come to an end. Although a draft is on the table, Nduhungirehe emphasized that the terms of the final agreement are still being negotiated, with efforts underway to consolidate contributions from all parties into a unified document.
Once these contributions are consolidated, foreign ministers from both nations will meet in Washington during the third week of May to finalize the agreement. The highly anticipated signing of the peace deal is expected to take place at the White House in mid-June, marking what could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing crisis.
The announcement follows an update from U.S. Special Envoy for Africa, Massad Boulos, who revealed that he had received the draft peace proposal from both Rwanda and DRC. Boulos described this as a key step toward fulfilling the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles, a diplomatic framework designed to guide the peace process.
While Rwanda has consistently denied military support to the M23, it has long raised concerns about the security threats posed by armed groups in the DRC, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which is composed of former Hutu leaders connected to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The M23’s resurgence since 2021 has fueled a humanitarian crisis, leaving entire communities displaced and deepening the fragility of eastern DRC. Despite multiple ceasefire attempts over the years, lasting peace remains elusive, and tensions continue to run high.
As the peace process progresses, all eyes will be on Washington, where the final deal could provide the necessary framework for ending one of Africa’s most enduring and devastating conflicts.
