THE United States is promoting a peace agreement that would require Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before a final deal can be signed, sources familiar with the draft told Reuters — a condition likely to anger Kigali, which regards armed groups in Congo as a direct threat to its national security.
The proposal is part of a broader US effort, under President Donald Trump’s administration, to broker peace in the resource-rich region and unlock billions of dollars in Western investment. Eastern Congo is home to vast reserves of cobalt, copper, tantalum, gold and lithium — critical minerals for the global green energy transition.
Rwanda resists terms of draft agreement
A draft of the peace deal, seen by Reuters, stipulates that Rwanda must withdraw troops, weapons and equipment from Congolese territory as a condition for signature. The document — confirmed as authentic by four diplomatic sources — was authored by US officials and goes beyond an earlier statement of principles signed by both countries’ foreign ministers in April alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That earlier declaration committed both sides to resolving their security concerns while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. The new draft significantly raises the stakes, and as of last week, Rwanda had yet to formally respond, according to two diplomatic sources.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told Reuters that delegations from both countries would meet in Washington this week to continue discussions on the agreement.
Congo accuses Rwanda of delays
A senior official in President Felix Tshisekedi’s office accused Rwanda of stalling. ‘We demand the total withdrawal of Rwandan troops as a precondition for signing the agreement, and we will not compromise,’ the official told Reuters.
Analysts and diplomats say Rwanda has deployed between 7,000 and 12,000 troops in eastern Congo to support the M23 rebel group, which seized key cities in a rapid advance earlier this year. Kigali has denied supplying arms or troops to M23, saying any presence is strictly for self-defence against Hutu militias linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Security mechanism and M23 dialogue included
The US-drafted agreement proposes establishing a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism involving Rwandan and international observers to manage threats — including the continued presence of Hutu militias in Congo. Although analysts say the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) pose little threat today, Rwanda continues to cite their presence as justification for cross-border operations.
Significantly, the deal also suggests Kinshasa allow the M23 group to participate in a national dialogue ‘on equal footing’ with other non-state armed actors — a controversial ask given that Congo views M23 as a terrorist group with ties to Rwanda.
The document also states that Rwanda ‘shall take all possible measures’ to ensure M23 withdraws from territory under its control, aligning with conditions outlined in a separate framework negotiated in Doha.
Qatar hosts parallel M23 talks
Qatar has been hosting direct talks between Congo and M23, though progress has been limited. A source briefed on those negotiations said both sides had reviewed a proposed draft and would consult their respective leaders before returning to the table.
A rebel representative told Reuters that little progress had been made on the key demand of M23’s full territorial withdrawal.
With pressure mounting and a region long haunted by cycles of armed conflict, Washington’s ambitious timeline — which aims for a signed deal within two months — remains uncertain, but diplomats insist the US is determined to see the talks through.
