Amanze Chinonye
The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are expected in Washington next week to sign a landmark peace deal and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, as the United States intensifies diplomatic efforts to stabilise conflict-hit eastern Congo and attract Western mining investment to the region.
Two diplomatic sources and Tina Salama, spokesperson for Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, confirmed to Reuters that the meeting is scheduled for 4 December.
Officials from Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s office and the White House did not immediately comment, though a White House official said last week that the Trump administration “continues to work with both parties, and looks forward to welcoming them to the White House at the appropriate time.”
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The planned summit comes against the backdrop of a decades-long crisis rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when members of the Hutu extremist Interahamwe militia fled into eastern Congo. Rwanda has long argued that the presence of these fighters now operating as the FDLR poses an existential security threat.
Congo, however, accuses Rwanda of using this justification to interfere militarily and exploit its mineral-rich territories. The region has since become home to more than 100 armed groups.
Tensions escalated sharply in recent years with the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which launched a sweeping offensive this year, seizing the region’s two largest cities. United Nations experts reported in July that Rwanda exercises command and control over M23, an allegation Kigali denies. The renewed violence has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Washington’s deepening involvement is driven by both humanitarian concerns and strategic economic interests. Eastern Congo holds some of the world’s largest deposits of cobalt, copper, lithium, gold, and tantalum – minerals critical to global electronics and clean-energy supply chains. The Trump administration has signalled that a stabilised region could unlock billions of dollars in Western investment.
Next week’s meeting in Washington is expected to advance a U.S.-brokered peace deal reached in June and signed by the foreign ministers of both countries, along with a Regional Economic Integration Framework agreed earlier this month.
Salama said Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame will ratify both agreements during the summit. She noted that Tshisekedi is committed to regional integration but stressed that “respect for sovereignty is non-negotiable and a prerequisite for regional integration.”
In September, Congo and Rwanda agreed to implement key security provisions outlined in the June peace deal by the end of the year. These include joint operations against the FDLR and steps to facilitate the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. However, there has been little progress on the ground.
Meanwhile, Qatar has hosted separate negotiations between Congo and the M23 rebels, resulting in a framework agreement signed this month, though major details remain unresolved.
Tshisekedi, in remarks to members of the Congolese diaspora in Serbia shared by his office on X, confirmed he would travel to Washington but emphasised that Rwandan troops must withdraw from eastern Congo before meaningful regional integration can take place.
Prime Business Africa will continue to monitor developments ahead of the high-stakes Washington summit.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
