The United States is urging Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as a condition for signing a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict and unlocking major Western investment in the mineral-rich region, according to multiple diplomatic sources.
Washington is brokering negotiations between Congo and Rwanda, with U.S. officials drafting a proposed deal that would require Kigali to remove its soldiers, weapons, and equipment before any formal agreement is signed. The draft, confirmed by four diplomatic sources, represents a significant step beyond a preliminary declaration of principles signed in April by the two countries’ foreign ministers alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser, told Reuters last month that the administration aims to finalize a peace deal within two months—a challenging goal given the deep-rooted tensions stemming from Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
Rwanda is estimated to have deployed 7,000 to 12,000 troops to support M23 rebels in eastern Congo, according to analysts and diplomats. M23 fighters launched a rapid offensive earlier this year, capturing major towns. Kigali denies backing the rebels and says its forces are acting defensively against Congolese army units and Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
As of last week, Rwanda had yet to respond to the U.S. draft, though Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed upcoming technical meetings with Congolese officials in Washington. The U.S. State Department declined to comment.
A senior official in President Félix Tshisekedi’s office accused Rwanda of delaying the process and reiterated that full Rwandan withdrawal was non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, talks hosted by Qatar between Congo and M23 are continuing separately. A Qatari-mediated proposal reportedly calls for M23 to withdraw from captured areas and participate in Congo’s national dialogue alongside other armed groups. Congo has historically labeled M23 a terrorist organization and a Rwandan proxy, making the inclusion a contentious point.
The draft agreement also proposes a joint security mechanism involving Rwandan and foreign observers to address the presence of Hutu rebel groups, particularly the FDLR. While some analysts argue the group poses little current threat, Rwanda continues to cite it as a justification for cross-border military actions.
Despite efforts by Washington and Doha, progress remains slow. An M23 official told Reuters there has been little movement toward a final deal.