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2d ago

Rwanda and DR Congo Sign U.S.-Brokered Declaration to Advance Peace in Eastern Congo

The agreement, signed in Washington and witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to address root causes of conflict, including security, refugee returns, and regional economic integration.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosts a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony with Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, left, and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, right, Friday, April 25, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner speaks during a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, Friday, April 25, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosts a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony with Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, left, and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, right, Friday, April 25, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, speaks during a Declaration of Principles signing ceremony with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Friday, April 25, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Overview

  • The declaration of principles was signed on April 25, 2025, by the foreign ministers of Rwanda and DR Congo, marking a key step toward resolving decades of conflict in eastern DR Congo.
  • The U.S.-facilitated agreement focuses on security, the repatriation of refugees, and building regional economic value chains with potential American private sector investment.
  • Rwanda has raised concerns over DR Congo’s ties to the FDLR militia, while DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, highlighting persistent mutual distrust.
  • The declaration aims to reinforce ongoing African-led and Qatar-mediated peace processes, providing fresh momentum toward a comprehensive peace accord.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that durable peace is essential for regional stability, economic development, and the return of millions of displaced people.