Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initialed a draft peace agreement, marking a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
The agreement is expected to be officially signed by ministers from both countries on 27 June, according to a joint statement released by the parties and the United States.
The deal follows three days of intensive negotiations and is viewed as a breakthrough in diplomacy facilitated by President Donald Trump’s administration. It outlines key commitments from both sides, including respect for territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities, and a structured plan for the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups.
One of the key elements of the agreement is the creation of a joint security mechanism, based on earlier proposals discussed during Angolan mediation efforts.
In 2024, Rwandan and Congolese technical teams had previously reached similar understandings, including the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and joint operations against the Rwandan Hutu rebel group FDLR. However, those agreements were not endorsed at the ministerial level. Angola, which served as mediator, stepped away from its role in March after repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure a lasting resolution amid rising tensions.
Conflict in eastern Congo intensified this year as M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, captured major cities in the region. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of providing military support to M23, including troops and weapons. Rwanda denies these claims, stating its forces are acting in self-defence against Congolese troops and Hutu militias associated with the 1994 genocide.
The mineral-rich region holds vast reserves of cobalt, gold, tantalum, copper, and lithium. The peace agreement, if implemented successfully, could unlock billions in foreign investment and development projects.
The next few days will be critical as both governments prepare for the high-level ministerial signing, which may shape the security and economic future of Central Africa.
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U.S. President Donald Trump brought together the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington on Thursday to sign a peace deal, despite ongoing fighting in the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared the end of a 16th Ebola outbreak, closing a two month emergency in Kasai Province that pushed national and international teams into an intensive response.
More than 200 health facilities in war-hit eastern Congo have run out of medicines due to widespread looting and supply chain disruptions during fighting this year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization has started vaccinating frontline health workers and contacts of Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai province, where the virus outbreak has already claimed 16 lives.
Scores of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo Tuesday (9 December) to protest against the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Pressure is mounting between Venezuela and the United States as both nations emphasise military preparedness and strategic positioning.
Iran and Saudi Arabia reiterated their commitment to enhance ties following a joint meeting with China in Tehran on Tuesday to follow up on implementation of the 2023 Beijing Agreement which resulted in resumption of their diplomatic relations after eight years.
Tanzania's government warned on Monday that protests scheduled for Tuesday would be illegal and amounted to an attempted coup, as security forces were heavily deployed in major cities.
The world’s leading minds and voices will be honoured on Wednesday, 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, as Nobel Prizes are presented in Stockholm and Oslo.
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Democracies must be prepared to fight for freedom in order to survive, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado said on Wednesday, in a speech delivered by her daughter during a ceremony Machado could not attend.
The possibility of restricting social media access for children is a hot topic in the European Union and the United Kingdom, after Australia implemented a world-first ban for those under 16. Lawmakers have labelled the ban a “real-world test” of how far governments can go to protect young people.
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