FULL AGREEMENT: Rwanda, DR Congo Sign Peace Deal in Washington

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have signed a peace deal in Washington. Mediation efforts by the US took over two months. The agreement followed up on the declaration of principles signed in Washington on April 25.

The agreement was signed by the foreign ministers of Rwanda and DR Congo on Friday, June 27.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio witnessed the signing of the agreement as Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe represented Rwanda and Therese Kayikwamba Wagner  represented DR Congo.

Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, noted that the agreement will take immediate effect.

On June 18, the Rwandan and Congolese technical teams initiated the concept of operations (CONOPS) of a harmonised plan for the neutralisation of the FDLR. The concept was included in the agreement.

Secretary Rubio saluted the role of “such close friends and partners in the African Union and in Qatar,” emphasized that after the difficult journey to the peace accord, there was need to focus on the implementation of the same.

“We acknowledge and recognize there’s still more work to be done, but we thank you all very much for being a part of this historic and important day,” said Rubio.

On his part, Rwanda’s Nduhungirehe said: “The first order of business is to begin implementing the concept of operations for the neutralization of the FDLR, to be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures.

“With this agreement, we also committed to facilitate the return of refugees in our respective territories with the support of the UNHCR. Creating the conditions for the safe and dignified return of refugees is vital to achieve a lasting peace.”

DR Congo’s foreign affairs minister Kayikwamba spoke of a new chapter which calls for commitment and courage.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has previously made it clear that Kigali was ready to defend itself against Rwanda, telling President Felix Tshisekedi that he would destroy himself and Congo, as reported Here and There.

Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda

PREAMBLE

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda (“Rwanda”) (hereinafter the “Parties”):

REAFFIRMING the mutual commitment to respect the Declaration of Principles signed by the Parties on April 25, 2025, based on mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes;

ACKNOWLEDGING the need for a negotiated, political resolution—rather than a military solution—to the Parties’ disputes;

RECOGNIZING the terms of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, including respect of borders existing on achievement of independence, and its other instruments relating to the promotion of peace and security in Africa and cordial relations among African countries, the UN Charter, and UNSC Resolution 2773 (February 21, 2025) and other relevant UNSC resolutions;

TAKING NOTE OF the Concept of Operations of the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (CONOPS) of October 31, 2024, arising from the Luanda Process, and of the communiqué from the Second Joint EAC-SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government of March 24, 2025, which was adopted at the 6th Ministerial Meeting between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda on November 25, 2024;

MINDFUL of the negotiations underway between DRC and AFC/M23 under the mediation of the State of Qatar in Doha, and the obligation of the Parties to lend full support to bring them to a successful conclusion;

DETERMINED to prevent a renewal of hostilities that may harm the peace process, to actively promote lasting peace, stability, and integrated economic development throughout the region, and to resume normal bilateral relations between the Parties;

COMMITTED to promoting full respect for human rights and for international humanitarian law;

Hereby agree to be bound by the following provisions:

1. TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND PROHIBITION OF HOSTILITIES

The Parties agree to the following terms to ensure respect for territorial integrity and the promotion of peaceful relations:

1. Respect for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Territorial Integrity: Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda: The Parties agree to implement the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (CONOPS) of October 31, 2024, as provided for in this Agreement.
2. Respect for the Republic of Rwanda’s Territorial Integrity: Neutralization of the FDLR: The Parties agree to implement the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (CONOPS) of October 31, 2024, as provided for in this Agreement.

iii. Peaceful Resolution of Disputes: The Parties agree that differences shall be resolved through processes established by this Agreement and other relevant agreements, rather than through hostilities.

1. Prohibition of Hostile Acts: The Parties agree to refrain from any acts of aggression. The Parties agree not to engage in, support, or condone any military incursions or other acts, whether direct or indirect, that threaten the peace and security, or that undermine the sovereignty or territorial integrity of the other Party.
2. Prohibition of Support for Hostile Acts or Armed Groups: The Parties shall not allow any military or other hostile activities against each other on or from their respective territories or provide support for such activities abroad. To that end, the Parties undertake to work to take any and all measures necessary to ensure that such activities shall not be initiated, planned, carried out, directed, or financed from their respective territories towards each other.
3. Territorial Scope: The prohibition of hostile acts applies without geographical restriction, regardless of the location of the armed forces involved.

vii. Responsibility with Respect to Non-State Armed Groups: The Parties shall take all possible measures to ensure that all armed groups within the conflict area cease engaging in hostilities that are inconsistent with the prohibition of hostilities established in this Agreement.

viii. Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Personnel: The Parties shall facilitate the free movement of civilians, including humanitarians. The Parties must comply with international humanitarian law, including in the implementation of this Agreement.

2. DISENGAGEMENT, DISARMAMENT, AND INTEGRATION OF NON-STATE ARMED GROUPS

To promote an enduring end to conflict and to unlock the economic potential of the region, the Parties shall support the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the AFC/M23 under the mediation of the State of Qatar in Doha and efforts to disarm and demobilize nonstate armed groups. This shall include the following:

1. Ending State Support to Armed Groups: The Parties shall immediately and unconditionally cease any state support to non-state armed groups except as necessary to facilitate implementation of this Agreement.
2. Disengagement: In a manner sequenced and coordinated with the disengagement of forces, and as provided for in other forthcoming Agreements, the Parties shall support the disengagement, disarmament, and integration of non-state armed groups as provided for by other Agreements or processes and the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Process (P-DDRCS) and the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism as set out in Section 3 of this Agreement.

iii. Conditional Integration into Security Forces: Any potential reintegration of combatants into the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Congolese National Police (PNC) shall be carried out in a rigorous, individualized, and conditional manner, on a case-by-case basis, based on clear criteria, including moral and physical fitness, in particular, respect for and absence of serious violations of international humanitarian law and loyalty to the State and its institutions.

3. JOINT SECURITY COORDINATION MECHANISM

The Parties shall work together and with regional and international partners to promote stability, security, and development in the region, recognizing that peace and prosperity are interdependent.

The Parties hereby establish and agree to launch within 30 days of this Agreement’s entry into force a joint DRC-Rwanda security coordination mechanism that shall operate solely in accordance with terms decided between the Parties. The Joint Security Mechanism shall establish shared operating procedures and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency in the scale and scope of operations.

The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism shall be governed by the following principles and the implementation plan set out in the Annex:

1. An irreversible and verifiable end to state support for FDLR and associated armed groups, and the total prohibition of all domestic and foreign material and logistical, financial, or other support to the same.
2. A commitment to identify, assess, locate, and neutralize in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (CONOPS) of October 31, 2024, as established under the Luanda Process.

iii. A commitment to build on previous successful bilateral security cooperation arrangements, where operations are targeted, punctual, and directed at a specific threat.

1. Protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law.
2. REFUGEES, INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, AND HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS

The Parties shall, with the support of UN agencies, relevant humanitarian organizations, and the international community:

1. Return of Refugees: Facilitate the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees, in coordination with territorial and/or customary authorities, of the respective States, to their countries of origin in a manner consistent with their international legal obligations and the provisions of the Tripartite Agreements on the Voluntary Repatriation of Congolese and Rwandan Refugees signed in Kigali, on 17 February 2010, between the DRC, Rwanda, and UNHCR, recognizing the positive contribution of this mechanism.
2. Internally Displaced Persons: Recognize that an end to the conflict is necessary to enable the return of IDPs to their place of origin, in coordination with territorial and customary authorities of the Congolese State.

iii. Humanitarian Assistance: Create enabling conditions for the delivery of emergency relief and guarantee free, safe, unimpeded, and unconditional access by humanitarian agencies to vulnerable populations, consistent with their obligations under international humanitarian law and with relevant UNSC resolutions. The local authorities of the DRC shall be responsible for doing so under the supervision of the DRC central government.

5. MONUSCO AND OTHER MULTILATERAL SUPPORT

The Parties shall support and promote the efforts of multilateral peacekeeping, inter-positional, and verification forces and mechanisms:

1. The Parties shall facilitate and support MONUSCO’s capacity to protect civilian populations and implement all elements of its mandate, including by respecting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement and taking all appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel deployed in eastern DRC.
2. The Parties commit to advance the implementation of UNSC resolution 2773 (2025) and other relevant UNSC resolutions.

iii. The Parties recognize MONUSCO, as mandated by UNSC Resolution 2765 (2024), plays an important role in local peace and security.

6. REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FRAMEWORK

The Parties agree to launch within three months of this Agreement’s entry into force the phased regional economic integration framework to be set out in a separate agreement to be titled the “Regional Economic Integration Framework,” that builds on existing efforts, such as the AfCFTA, ICGLR, COMESA, and the EAC. The Parties shall use this framework to expand foreign trade and investment derived from regional critical mineral supply chains and introduce greater transparency, which shall ensure illicit economic pathways are blocked and both Parties derive greater prosperity—especially for the region’s population—from the region’s natural resources through mutually beneficial partnerships and investment opportunities:

1. Bilateral Integration: Under the framework, the Parties shall launch and/or expand cooperation on shared priorities such as national park management; hydropower development; derisking of mineral supply chains; joint management of resources in Lake Kivu; and transparent, formalized end-to-end mineral value chains (from mine to processed metal) that link both countries, in partnership, as appropriate, with the U.S. government and U.S. investors.
2. Regional Integration: Additionally, with key partners, the Parties commit to explore options to link the framework to other international or regional economic development initiatives, including in infrastructure projects.

iii. Economic Oversight: Parties shall establish or utilize independent economic audit and anti-corruption mechanisms to monitor mineral supply chains, infrastructure projects, and any future economic agreements between the Parties, as set out in the Regional Economic Integration Framework.

IMPLEMENTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Dispute Resolution: Any dispute arising from the implementation of this Agreement shall be resolved amicably between the Parties with the facilitation of the Joint Oversight Committee upon request of either party. Where the Parties fail to resolve a dispute, the Parties shall refer the matter to Joint Oversight Committee for facilitation.

Joint Oversight Committee: For the effective implementation of this Agreement, the Parties hereby establish a Joint Oversight Committee, subject to the following terms:

The Parties shall be members of the JOC and shall invite within three days the following governments and intergovernmental organizations to serve on the Joint Oversight Committee: The Joint Oversight Committee shall have as its mandate the following:

African Union Facilitator Qatar United States

To receive complaints from the Parties about violations of this Agreement and resolve disputes arising from the violations of this Agreement; To take measures, as appropriate, to address violations; Monitor and examine claims of violations and resolve disputes; The Committee may appoint another representative or establish an appropriate ad hoc mechanism to assist in the resolution of any dispute related to this Agreement; The committee shall endeavor to make decisions and resolve disputes by consensus. The JOC shall endeavor to establish its Terms of Reference at the first meeting of the JOC.

iii. The first meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee shall be as soon as practicable but not later than 45 days from entry into force. The Parties shall explore hosting the first meeting of the Committee in Washington, D.C.

Clarification: This Agreement does not create obligations on any non-Party states serving on the Joint Oversight Committee.

FINAL PROVISIONS

This Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.

This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either Party upon six (6) months’ written notice to the other Party.

iii. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the Parties.

The Annex shall be considered part of this Agreement.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

This Agreement shall enter into force, and the obligations herein take effect, starting from the signature of this Agreement.

Signed at Washington on ___________, 2025, in duplicate, in the English and French languages.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF  THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO        _________________________________FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF  THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA          _________________________________

Witnessed by:

THE GOVERNMENT OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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