- DRC and Rwanda have initialled a peace pact expected to be formally signed on June 27 in Washington
- Agreement covers respect for borders, halt to hostilities, and disarmament of armed groups
- Talks held in Washington, mediated by US and Qatar
- Deal follows months of M23 conflict in eastern DRC
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to witness signing
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have taken a major step toward peace after both sides initialled a new peace agreement aimed at ending the decades-long violence in eastern DRC. The agreement will be officially signed on June 27 in Washington, DC.
This new pact builds on an earlier April declaration of principles, and now includes firm commitments to respect territorial boundaries and completely stop hostilities in the volatile eastern region.
The peace deal was crafted with help from Qatar and the United States, and the signing will be witnessed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signalling high-level global support for this long-awaited resolution.
According to a joint statement, the deal emerged after three days of intense negotiations in the US capital, where both countries explored political, economic, and security concerns affecting the region.
A key part of the agreement focuses on the disengagement and disarmament of non-state armed groups, including the notorious M23 movement, which has seized control of large portions of eastern DRC since early 2024.
The pact also outlines a conditional integration process for fighters who lay down arms — part of a wider effort to dismantle militia governance in rebel-controlled zones.
The M23 group, which has long been accused by the UN and US of being supported by Rwanda, launched major attacks earlier this year, capturing Goma and Bukavu and installing their own local administrations.
The offensive has triggered a fresh wave of civilian deaths and displacement, adding to the pain of a region that has been in conflict for over 30 years.
Rwanda Denies Involvement, Cites Security Threats
Rwanda continues to deny any military involvement with M23, instead pointing fingers at FDLR, a group formed by ethnic Hutus accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Kigali argues that it is simply defending itself from threats coming from across the border.
Last month, Rwanda had already hinted at an upcoming peace signing in mid-June, which now seems to be taking shape with this formal breakthrough.
While the world watches closely, the pressure is now on both nations to follow through on commitments and bring an end to a war that has left thousands dead and destabilised the region for decades.
As June 27 nears, attention shifts to Washington, where hopes for lasting peace will rest on the signatures of two countries with a long, complicated past.
