US gives conditions for Rwanda-DR Congo peace deal

Business Insider

a day ago

The United States has set forth critical conditions for facilitating a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a key demand being the complete withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo before any formal deal can be signed.
The United States has proposed conditions for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Washington is pressuring Rwanda to end military activities in the region to facilitate a sustainable resolution to ongoing conflicts.
The U.S. is leveraging mineral investments in the DRC for strategic peace efforts, aiming to stabilize the region and counter foreign influences.
Sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations indicate that the United States is exerting significant pressure on Rwanda to cease its military activities in the DRC and conflict-ridden region, which has long been destabilized by armed groups and foreign interventions.
This diplomatic effort, led by the U.S., aims to de-escalate hostilities and pave the way for a sustainable resolution to the violence.
According to Reuters, a draft version of the proposed peace agreement explicitly states that Rwanda must remove all troops, weapons, and military equipment from Congolese territory as a condition for finalizing the deal.
The report has been verified by four diplomatic sources, who confirmed to Reuters that it was authored by U.S. officials.
This document marks a substantial step beyond the earlier declaration of principles signed by the foreign ministers of both countries in April during a ceremony in Washington, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That earlier agreement committed the parties to resolving their security disputes in a manner that respects each nation's territorial integrity and sovereignty, but did not include specific withdrawal demands.
US leverages mineral access for peace
Several months ago, the United States launched a major mineral deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a broader strategy aimed at securing a peace agreement between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda.
This move emphasized Washington's deepening diplomatic and economic involvement in a region long plagued by conflict, particularly in the eastern provinces, where immense mineral wealth has historically fueled violence and foreign intervention.
The proposed agreement, which would open access for U.S. and allied companies to Congo's rich deposits of critical minerals such as cobalt, coltan, lithium, and gold, is being positioned not simply as an economic transaction, but as a calculated geopolitical instrument.
The rationale behind it is straightforward: establishing peace and stability in the region would not only unlock large-scale investment but also curb the expanding influence of global competitors, especially China, in Africa's strategic resource sectors.
Rwanda has been accused of backing the M23 rebel forces, while Kigali maintains that the Democratic Republic of Congo is collaborating with armed groups hostile to Rwanda's national security.
Political momentum for the peace process gained traction with a high-level visit by President Donald Trump's Adviser for African Affairs, Massad Boulos, who traveled to the region to meet with both Congolese and Rwandan officials.
' You have heard about a minerals agreement. We have reviewed the Congo's proposal. I am happy to announce that the president and I have agreed on a path forward for its development, ' Boulos said following his meeting with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa.
By linking the withdrawal of foreign troops, particularly those from Rwanda to prospects for peace and economic growth, the United States aims to simultaneously address regional security challenges and promote development.