The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a provisional agreement aimed at stopping the conflict in eastern DRC, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the United States Department of State. This development comes after “three days of constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests” in Washington, DC.
The draft agreement contains provisions on issues including disarmament, the integration of non-state armed groups, and the return of refugees and internally displaced people. Eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict for decades, with armed groups competing for access to natural resources. The conflict escalated in January when the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group captured Goma, the mineral-rich area’s largest city, and later seized the strategic town of Bukavu. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels.
Thousands of people have been killed in the region, and hundreds of thousands of others displaced since the conflict intensified earlier this year. Several parties to the conflict have been accused of carrying out human rights abuses. Amnesty International accused M23 of torturing and killing civilians, stating that “these acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes”. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on all sides “to commit immediately to a ceasefire and resume negotiations, and to respect international humanitarian and human rights law”.
The US hopes to bring an end to the fighting and unlock billions of dollars of Western investment in the eastern DRC, which has large mineral reserves, including cobalt, copper, gold, and lithium. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the twin aims of peace and investment as a “win-win”. Massad Boulos, the US envoy to Africa, travelled to the DRC and Rwanda in April, urging Kigali to end its support for the M23 rebels.
The agreement is part of a broader effort to promote regional stability and economic integration. The US has facilitated the agreement, with Rubio stating that the US wants to “promote win-win outcomes for all”. The draft agreement is due to be formally signed on June 27 by ministers from the DRC and Rwanda in the presence of Rubio.
The draft agreement is due to be formally signed on June 27 by ministers from the DRC and Rwanda in the presence of Rubio.