Washington DC – Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said he expects a U.S.-brokered peace accord with the Democratic Republic of Congo to advance stability in eastern DRC, despite recent clashes between Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces. The agreement is set to be signed on Thursday in Washington by U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Rwanda and DRC.
Nduhungirehe told reporters that while skirmishes continue, there is some stability in the region with no further territorial expansion. He said Rwanda’s military presence in eastern DRC is defensive and would only end once Congolese forces neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group formed from remnants of the former Rwandan government following the 1994 genocide.
The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity aim to end the decades-long conflict and encourage economic cooperation in a mineral-rich region, including tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium. Nduhungirehe said the U.S. agreement offers an economic incentive for peace and hopes Kinshasa will seize the opportunity to resolve the conflict.
DRC’s Minister of Communications Patrick Muyaya accused M23 of provoking recent fighting and said Rwanda’s involvement undermines peace. He said the DRC has launched an awareness campaign to prepare for disarming FDLR fighters and hopes the U.S.-facilitated accord will translate into concrete action on the ground, including the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to support for M23.
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