The presidents of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are expected in Washington next week to sign a peace deal and meet with US President Donald Trump, as Washington intensifies efforts to stabilise eastern Congo and draw Western mining investment into the region.
Two diplomatic sources and Tina Salama, spokesperson for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, confirmed to Reuters that the meeting is scheduled for 4 December. Spokespersons for Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the White House did not immediately comment.
A White House official told Reuters 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.”
Tensions remain high in eastern Congo, where the Rwanda backed M23 rebel group staged a rapid offensive this year, capturing the region’s two largest cities and triggering fears of a wider conflict involving neighbouring states. The recent fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Next week’s summit is expected to advance a US brokered peace deal reached in June and signed by the countries’ foreign ministers, as well as a Regional Economic Integration Framework agreed earlier this month. According to Salama, the heads of state will ratify both agreements.
“The president has always desired regional integration, but respect for sovereignty is non negotiable and a prerequisite for regional integration,” she said.
Washington has indicated it hopes to facilitate billions of dollars in Western investment in a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.
In September, Congo and Rwanda agreed to implement security measures outlined in the June deal by the end of the year. These include operations targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group based in Congo, and steps to enable the withdrawal of Rwandan troops. However, there has been little progress on the ground.
Rwanda denies supporting M23, though United Nations experts said in a July report that Rwanda exercises command and control over the rebels.
Qatar has meanwhile hosted separate talks between Congo and M23, leading to a framework agreement this month for a potential peace deal, though key details remain unresolved.
Tshisekedi told members of the Congolese diaspora in Serbia that he would travel to Washington, according to a post on X shared by his office on Friday. He added that Rwandan troops must withdraw from eastern Congo before true regional economic integration can be achieved.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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