Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The United States announced on Monday, May 5, that it has received a draft peace agreement from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) as part of ongoing US-mediated negotiations to resolve the protracted conflict in eastern Congo.
The development follows remarks by Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, who confirmed in an interview that Rwanda had submitted its input to the draft agreement. The foundational Declaration of Principles was signed by both parties in Washington on April 25.
“This is an important step toward fulfilling the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles, and I count on their continued commitment to achieving peace,” stated Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The peace deal is slated to be signed in June at the White House by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo. President Trump is expected to attend, along with key regional leaders who have mediated in the conflict: Kenya’s William Ruto, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé (the AU-appointed mediator), and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani.
Minister Nduhungirehe noted that technical negotiations would continue in the coming days, with a second ministerial meeting scheduled for mid-May in Washington. Once finalized, the agreement will be presented to the heads of state for signing.
Alongside the peace deal, both Rwanda and DR Congo are expected to sign bilateral economic agreements with the US, signaling a broader shift toward cooperation and regional stability.
In the April declaration, both nations reaffirmed their mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged to resolve disputes diplomatically. However, several preconditions must be met before the final signing. These include addressing internal security concerns and Rwanda’s demand to dismantle the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 genocide that operates in eastern DRC.
Further, DR Congo is expected to implement governance reforms to ensure equitable resource distribution.
A joint security mechanism is being planned to address mutual concerns, and an international monitoring committee involving the US, Qatar, France, and Togo will oversee implementation.
The mediation effort has officially shifted from the EAC-SADC framework to the African Union, with Togo leading the facilitation process.
