This week, delegations from the DRC and Rwanda are expected to reconvene in Washington, aiming to continue peace talks between the two countries.
A second draft agreement, obtained by RFI, goes beyond the April principles signed in Washington by the foreign ministers of Congo and Rwanda.
Under the current draft, Rwanda must withdraw all troops, weapons, and controlled equipment from the DRC without obstruction before signing the peace accord. RFI sources indicate this clause was already included in the first draft.
Key demand #1: Rwanda has never acknowledged that its troops are operating in the DRC; Kigali insists they are there for “defensive security measures.”
Key demand #2: Lift the state of siege in North Kivu, in place since 2021, and also end the siege in Ituri. The move would empower local civilian authorities and pave the way for political dialogue.
The draft also includes a ceasefire pact between Kinshasa and M23, currently being discussed in Doha.
Importantly, the agreement cannot be signed until Kinshasa and AFC/M23 finalize theirs.
Additionally, the draft outlines a plan to disarm FDLR, calling for a joint process to identify, locate, and dismantle FDLR militias, in line with commitments from the October 2024 Luanda agreement.
Crucial clause: Upon signature, the DRC must ban and halt all support (financial or material, domestic or foreign) to FDLR militias .
This project, while not yet binding, lays the roadmap: The formal peace process begins this week, possibly including a ministers-level meeting, before being signed by both presidents of Rwanda and the DRC.
