The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to sign a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the Great Lakes region at a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington.
The agreement seeks to de-escalate years of violence in eastern DRC, which has been driven largely by armed rebel groups, competition over mineral resources, and tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the M23 rebel group, despite accusations from the DRC government and reports from international observers.
Ahead of the summit, fighting has escalated in the mineral-rich eastern DRC between government forces and rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda, the BBC reported. The Congolese army accused its rivals of attempting to “sabotage” the peace process, while the M23 rebels said the army had launched an offensive in violation of a ceasefire.
Earlier this year, the M23 seized large swathes of eastern DRC in an offensive that left thousands dead and forced many more from their homes. The violence also claimed the lives of several South African soldiers deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which was tasked with supporting the Congolese government to restore peace, security and stability. Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were later withdrawn from the mission.
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have frequently traded accusations in recent years, each blaming the other for fuelling the conflict. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply as clashes intensified in eastern provinces rich in gold, coltan, and other strategic minerals, the BBC further reported.
In June, Trump facilitated the signing of a peace accord by the two countries’ foreign ministers, hailing it as a “glorious triumph”.
Tshisekedi and Kagame are now expected to formally endorse the agreement at the Washington summit, with several African and Arab leaders, including those of Burundi and Qatar, also expected to attend the signing ceremony.
