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.
Cameroon concluded a weeklong training programme on Saturday for indigenous communities in artificial intelligence (AI), as part of activities marking...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on 9 August, praising regional peace steps, new gas exports to Sy...
More than 1,000 aid packages have been airdropped over the Gaza Strip since the resumption of the international airdrop operation on 26 July, the Isra...
World leaders and international organisations have hailed the U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a historic breakthrough,...
Afghan authorities have begun building a 50 million afghani canal in Panjshir province to improve irrigation, support farmers, and create 1,000 jobs, ...
M23 rebels threaten to suspend ceasefire efforts if Kinshasa fails to release prisoners by Sunday, accusing the Congolese government of blocking peace.
Rescue operations continued this Tuesday at the Lomera artisanal gold mine in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a shaft collapse over the weekend trapped an unknown number of miners underground.
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Cameroon concluded a weeklong training programme on Saturday for indigenous communities in artificial intelligence (AI), as part of activities marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
World leaders and international organisations have hailed the U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a historic breakthrough, marking a decisive step toward stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Afghan authorities have begun building a 50 million afghani canal in Panjshir province to improve irrigation, support farmers, and create 1,000 jobs, according to Tolonews.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had spoken with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, noting their shared view on the threat posed by Russia’s attempt “to reduce everything to discussing the impossible.”
Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Saturday that certain countries would make “titanic efforts” to derail the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 15 August.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment