DR Congo-Rwanda peace agreement to enable economic investment in region: US State Department

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Rwanda will make economic investment and development possible in the region, the US State Department said on Thursday ahead of Friday's ministerial signing.

"With the implementation of this agreement, the economic investment and development we all want to see will be possible," Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson, told reporters.

The agreement, which will be signed at the State Department on Friday, includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups; establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism that incorporates the CONOPS of October 31, 2024; facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as humanitarian access; and a regional economic integration.

“This is a significant milestone for peace and the Great Lakes region, and a reminder that peace on paper must be matched by implementation on the ground,” he said.

The dispute centered on Rwanda's alleged support for M23 rebels has severely impacted economic development, with the group capturing key eastern DR Congo cities, including Goma, in early 2025.

According to the UN, more than 7.8 million people have been displaced in the conflict.

"The United States is proud to support this hard-won progress," Pigott said.