Overview

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a U.S.-backed declaration in Washington to finalize a draft peace agreement by May 2.
• Both countries committed to halting state support for non-state armed groups and respecting each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• The agreement includes plans to establish a joint security mechanism to address armed groups and criminal networks in the region.
• The U.S. and Qatar played key roles in mediating the talks, with the U.S. also pursuing greater access to the region's critical minerals like cobalt and lithium.
• This development follows months of escalating conflict in eastern DRC, including the M23's January capture of Goma and Bukavu, which displaced thousands.