Representatives from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached a preliminary agreement that may bring an end to decades of conflict.
The breakthrough, facilitated by the US and Qatar, outlines the “disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration” of armed groups in eastern DR Congo.
Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for a joint security mechanism to prevent future conflicts. The peace deal is anticipated to be formally signed next week.
This agreement could potentially pave the way for significant western investment in the mineral-rich region, which has been plagued by conflict for thirty years.
However, analysts note that there are still many unanswered questions regarding the specifics of the peace deal.
The US State Department announced that technical teams had initialed the draft text on Wednesday, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled for next Friday, to be attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The agreement was reached after three days of “constructive dialogue on political, security, and economic interests” between officials from both countries in Washington.
This latest draft agreement builds upon a previous accord signed earlier.
In late April this year, Rwanda and DR Congo signed a commitment in Washington to respect each other’s sovereignty and work towards a draft peace agreement within days.
The conflict escalated earlier this year when M23 rebels, believed to be supported by Rwanda, took control of mineral-rich territory in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda denies backing the M23, claiming their military presence is defensive against threats from groups like the FDLR, a rebel faction primarily composed of ethnic Hutus with ties to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The M23’s capture of Goma and Bukavu, along with the establishment of governing structures in these regions, has resulted in numerous casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
In response to the rebel offensive, the government in Kinshasa sought assistance from the US, reportedly offering access to critical minerals found in eastern DR Congo, such as coltan.
Past peace agreements between the two nations have failed to hold.
Despite reaching agreements under Angolan mediation last year regarding the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and joint operations against the FDLR, ministerial endorsement was lacking, leading to the collapse of the deals.
Source BBC
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