Overview

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda formally signed the peace agreement on June 27 in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and both nations’ foreign ministers in attendance.
• The accord mandates an immediate ceasefire, recognition of Congolese territorial integrity, and the disarmament or conditional integration of non-state armed groups.
• It establishes a joint security coordination mechanism and builds on months of U.S.-led and Qatar-backed talks aimed at halting M23 rebel advances.
• UN and U.S. experts have accused Rwanda of providing military support to M23 forces that seized Goma and Bukavu earlier this year, allegations Kigali denies while citing defensive concerns over FDLR militias.
• Secretary Rubio warned that translating the pact into durable peace will depend on a rigorous verification process and irreversible implementation of its provisions.