The United States is working to broker a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, with the goal of finalizing and signing the accord at the White House in roughly two months.
The peace deal would be accompanied by bilateral mineral agreements expected to unlock billions of dollars in Western investment across the region, according to Massad Boulos, senior advisor for Africa to former President Donald Trump.
“When we sign the peace agreement, the minerals deal with the DRC will be signed that same day, followed by a similar, though smaller, package with Rwanda,” Boulos said in an interview from Doha, Qatar.
This U.S.-led diplomatic initiative comes amid renewed fighting in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have made significant territorial gains.
The conflict, rooted in decades of regional instability, is unfolding in one of the world’s richest mineral belts, home to resources such as tantalum and gold. Rwanda denies any involvement in backing M23.
As part of the peace process agreed in Washington last week, both Congo and Rwanda are expected to submit separate draft agreements by Friday.
The drafts will lay the foundation for a final accord to be negotiated in mid-May during a meeting in Washington between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of both countries.
Before any peace deal can be finalized, however, both nations are required to complete economic agreements with the United States.
These agreements are expected to pave the way for substantial U.S. and Western investments in mining and infrastructure in both countries, including mineral processing projects in Rwanda.
“The agreement with the DRC is on a much larger scale due to the country’s size and vast mineral wealth,” Boulos noted. “But Rwanda also has significant mining potential—not just in extraction, but in processing, refining, and trading.”
He added that several U.S. and Western companies have expressed readiness to commit multi-billion dollar investments once the mineral agreements are signed.
However, the peace deal is contingent on both sides addressing key security concerns. The U.S. expects Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory and end support for M23 rebels.
In turn, Congo must address Rwanda’s concerns regarding militia threats, particularly from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
A follow-up committee has been established to monitor progress toward the agreement. It includes representatives from the United States, Qatar, France, and Togo, which is acting on behalf of the African Union.
