Overview
- Congo and Rwanda have submitted draft peace proposals under a U.S.-led initiative aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern Congo and unlocking major Western investment.
- The draft proposals, submitted by a May 2 deadline, have not yet been consolidated, and neither government has publicly confirmed the submission details.
- The U.S. plans for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with Congolese and Rwandan officials in mid-May to finalize a peace accord tied to bilateral economic agreements.
- The final peace agreement hinges on securing U.S. and Western investment in Congo’s mineral-rich regions and infrastructure, with potential benefits for Rwanda’s mineral processing sector.
- Despite diplomatic progress, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels continue their advances, recently capturing Lunyasenge, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and raising tensions in the region.