Congo and Rwanda are set to sign an agreement in Washington on Friday aimed at promoting peace and economic development, according to sources familiar with the talks. The agreement follows a diplomatic effort to address the violence in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed rebels launched a major offensive earlier this year.
The signing is expected to provide a pathway to ease the ongoing conflict, which has been a long-standing issue since the Rwandan genocide. Both countries are also seeking U.S. investment in Congo’s mineral-rich economy, particularly in copper, cobalt, and lithium, crucial for mobile phones and electric vehicles. However, past ceasefire agreements have failed to produce lasting peace.
The foreign ministers of both nations are expected to sign the agreement at a ceremony with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington has been in discussions to invest billions in Congo’s mineral sector, while Rwanda is also in talks with the U.S. over a potential minerals deal.
The violence surged after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels launched a major attack in January, capturing two key cities in eastern Congo. While the U.N. and Western governments have accused Rwanda of supporting M23, Rwanda denies the claim, asserting its actions were in self-defense against Congo’s army and militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
Both Qatar and the U.S. have expressed interest in mediating a resolution. Qatar facilitated talks in March between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, where both leaders called for a ceasefire. Qatar has also hosted discussions between Congo and M23, which resulted in a joint statement this week calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The agreement to be signed aims to create a “pathway to peace, stability, and integrated economic development” in eastern Congo and restore normal bilateral relations between the two nations. Diplomatic sources indicated the agreement would lay out broad principles, with specifics to be finalized in the coming months.
The Trump administration has shown significant interest in Congo, especially after a Congolese senator approached U.S. officials with a proposal for a minerals-for-security deal. The U.S. seeks greater access to Congo’s mineral wealth, which is currently dominated by Chinese mining companies. The U.S. State Department has indicated support for such a deal, involving various private sector partners, including Erik Prince, a prominent Trump ally, who has expressed willingness to assist Congo in securing and taxing its mineral resources.