DRC & Rwanda Sign Provisional Peace Deal in Washington with Support from U.S. and Qatar
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a provisional peace agreement in Washington, D.C., with mediation by the United States and Qatar.
The agreement marks a significant step toward ending the long-standing conflict between the two nations, particularly in the violence-stricken eastern region of the DRC.
The initialed accord outlines key commitments, including the disengagement of armed groups and the mutual respect of each country’s territorial integrity.
According to a joint statement released the same day, the formal signing of the final agreement is scheduled for June 27, 2025, during a ministerial-level meeting in Washington, in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The provisional agreement builds upon a declaration of principles adopted in April 2025. It emphasizes a cessation of hostilities and recognizes the sovereignty of national borders, particularly in the conflict zones of eastern DRC.
The U.S. State Department, speaking on behalf of the U.S., Qatar, Rwanda, and the DRC, described the document as the result of three days of “constructive dialogue on political, security, and economic interests.”
The agreement also includes provisions for the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups.
The move toward peace comes amid a renewed offensive by the M23 rebel group, which has seized large swaths of territory in eastern DRC since early 2025.
Both United Nations and U.S. experts have accused Rwanda of providing military support to the group—allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
Rwanda argues that its national security is endangered by the continued presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group linked to the 1994 genocide and active in eastern Congo.
Despite these tensions, Rwandan officials had already indicated in May 2025 that a final peace agreement could be expected in mid-June.
The newly signed framework raises hopes for a diplomatic solution and potentially restricts further military assistance to the M23 and its political ally, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), led by Corneille Nangaa, a former president of the DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission.
Eastern DRC has suffered more than three decades of recurring violence, fueled by ethnic tensions, competition over mineral resources, and the presence of numerous armed factions. Since 2021, at least six ceasefire agreements have been signed and subsequently violated.
While the new peace framework is still provisional, it represents a rare moment of agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali.
The international community remains cautiously optimistic that the final signing on June 27 will signal a genuine turning point toward lasting peace in the region.
