• DRC and Rwanda to sign U.S.-backed peace deal on June 27

• Pact covers disarmament, refugees, and economic ties

• Tensions driven by rebels, ethnic strife, and mineral smuggling

 The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27. This potential breakthrough follows talks that began in March under the guidance of the U.S. administration and Qatar, according to a joint press release from the U.S. State Department issued Wednesday evening.

"Technical teams from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda initialed the text of the Peace Agreement, witnessed by U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, in preparation for the Ministerial signing of the Peace Agreement on June 27, 2025, to be witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio," the statement said.

The draft peace agreement, developed after "three days of constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests," outlines a commitment to "territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities" in eastern DRC.

The document takes inspiration from a Declaration of Principles signed by Kinshasa and Kigali in April. It includes provisions for disarming and conditionally integrating non-state armed groups, establishing a joint security coordination mechanism, and facilitating the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. Additionally, it addresses access to humanitarian aid and a framework for regional economic integration.

No specifics were released regarding the economic aspect of the agreement. This component could grant the United States preferential access to strategic minerals and direct billions of dollars in investments into the region, which is rich in resources such as tantalum, cobalt, copper, gold, and lithium.

Tensions Driven by Political and Economic Interests

Washington has reaffirmed its support for the Lobito Corridor, particularly through investments in Congolese infrastructure. The U.S. is currently discussing a bilateral agreement with Kinshasa to secure access to strategic minerals.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in April that "a durable peace in the Great Lakes region will open the door for greater U.S. and broader Western investment, which will bring about economic opportunities and prosperity. And it will also help advance President Trump’s prosperity agenda for the world. It’s, as they call it, a win-win for everyone involved."

A report published in August 2022 by United Nations-appointed experts indicated that the Rwandan army had intervened in eastern DRC. These interventions were against predominantly Hutu armed groups like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and in support of other rebel groups active in the region, including the March 23 Movement (M23), a militia formed by Congolese Tutsis. Rwandan authorities have consistently denied any support for the M23.

Relations between Kigali and Kinshasa have been strained since the significant influx of Rwandan Hutu refugees into the DRC, who were accused of massacring Tutsis in 1994. Beyond political and ethnic concerns, economic interests also fuel these tensions. Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of receiving substantial amounts of smuggled minerals in exchange for its alleged support to the M23, which has seized the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu since the beginning of the year.