A peace agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali is imminent, brokered by the United States.

Three sources told Reuters that the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda will travel to Washington next week to sign a peace agreement and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, as part of Washington's efforts to end the conflict in eastern Congo and attract Western investment to the region's rich mining sector.

Diplomatic sources, as well as Tina Salama, spokeswoman for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, indicated that the meeting will take place on December 4.

Laborers work at an open shaft of the SMB coltan mine near the town of Rubaya in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, August 13, 2019. Picture taken August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
Workers at a coltan mine near the town of Rubaya in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters)

Neither the spokesman for Rwandan President Paul Kagame nor the White House responded to requests for comment on Friday. However, 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 an appropriate time."

This comes as the M23 movement launched a lightning offensive this year in eastern Congo, seizing control of the region's two largest cities and raising fears of a wider war that could engulf neighboring countries. The latest round of fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Background to Previous Agreements
The upcoming meeting will build on a peace agreement brokered by the United States last June and signed by the two countries' foreign ministers, as well as a framework for regional economic integration agreed upon this month.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C), Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (R), and Democratic Republic of the Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner sign a Declaration of Principles between the two countries in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2025. The US Secretary of State is pictured with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister (left) and the Rwandan Foreign Minister in Washington (AFP).

The two presidents are expected to ratify the agreements together, according to Salama, who emphasized that "the president has always desired regional integration, but respect for sovereignty is non-negotiable."

The Trump administration has spoken of facilitating billions of dollars in Western investment in a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium, and other minerals.

On-the-Ground Challenges
Last September, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed to implement security measures outlined in their June agreement by the end of the year. These measures include eliminating the threat posed by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and withdrawing Rwandan troops.

1- Doha witnesses the signing of a historic agreement between the Congolese government and the M23 movement – ​​Al Jazeera Net
Doha witnesses the signing of a historic agreement between the Congolese government and the M23 movement (Al Jazeera)

So far, no tangible progress has been made on the ground. Rwanda denies supporting the M23 movement, but a UN experts' report in July confirmed that Rwanda exercises command and control over the rebels.

Announcement

Qatar hosted separate talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 movement, and the two sides signed a framework peace agreement this month, but many details still need to be negotiated.

Laborers carry sacks of ore at the Rubaya coltan mine, in the town of Rubaya, which is controlled by M23 rebels, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, March 24, 2025. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Workers carry sacks of coltan ore in the town of Rubaya, which is controlled by M23 rebels (Reuters)
President Tshisekedi told members of the Congolese community in Serbia that he would travel to Washington, according to a post from his office on the X platform, but he also stressed that the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo was a prerequisite for achieving genuine regional economic integration.