News

Great Lakes: DRC and Rwanda to Sign Peace Deal June 27

Great Lakes: DRC and Rwanda to Sign Peace Deal June 27
Friday, 20 June 2025 07:48
  • 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.

On the same topic
Not long ago, Africa had fallen off Petrobras’ strategic map. Under the weight of debt and the fallout from the “Lava Jato” corruption scandal, the...
The government will invest $330 million in emergency and recovery measures. Floods have displaced 188,000 people and submerged 110,000...
Zimbabwe projects at least 8.5% growth in 2026 Forecast follows IMF staff-monitored reform program Inflation below 10%, reserves...
CNNC unit to invest up to $321.5M in Bannerman’s Etango project Deal includes right to buy 60% of future uranium output Move expands...
Most Read
01

Deposits grow 2.7%, supporting lending recovery Average loan sizes small, credit risk persists ...

Togo Microfinance: Deposits and Loans Rise Simultaneously in Q3 2025
02

Oil majors expand offshore exploration from Senegal to Angola Gulf of Guinea accounts for about 1...

Gulf of Guinea regains appeal as a key exploration hub for oil majors
03

Rwanda, partners break ground on $2 billion Kigali Innovation City Smart city targets ...

Rwanda Mobilises Global, Local Finance for $2Bln Innovation City Targeting Africa’s Digital Economy
04

MTN is considering buying back telecom towers it sold years ago, signalling that control of infras...

MTN’s Talks to Buyout IHS: A Strategic Reversal That Could Reshape African Telecoms
05

Ziidi Trader enables NSE share trading via M-Pesa M-Pesa revenue rose 15.2% to 161.1 billio...

Safaricom launches M-Pesa platform for stock trading in Kenya
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.