This past Friday, June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a “historic peace agreement” in Washington, aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
The agreement, brokered with the support of the United States, had been long-awaited and was signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Congolese counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.
Key Provisions in the Agreement
The agreement is built around nine main points:
Respect for the sovereignty of both Rwanda and DRC and an end to hostilities;
Ceasefire and withdrawal of troops, disarmament, and reintegration of non-state armed groups under specific conditions;
Establishment of a joint security monitoring mechanism to dismantle the FDLR rebel group (which opposes the Rwandan government) and end any state support to that group or its affiliates;
Repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and facilitation of humanitarian operations under DRC government supervision;
Support for MONUSCO’s mandate, including implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands that Rwanda withdraw its forces from DRC territory, M23 cease fighting and withdraw from captured areas, and Rwanda end its support to M23;
Economic cooperation, including transparency in mineral trade and regional business;
Creation of a joint implementation and dispute resolution committee, with mediators from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States;
Final provisions, including the indefinite duration of the agreement and the possibility for either party to withdraw after six months’ notice;
Immediate enforcement of the agreement upon signing.
Both countries also committed to support ongoing peace talks between the Kinshasa government and the AFC/M23 group, which are being mediated by Qatar, and are expected to lead to a permanent end to the conflict.
