Presidents of Rwanda and Congo will sign a peace agreement in Washington next week, according to reports

Next week, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to travel to Washington to sign a peace deal and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters. This visit comes as the U.S. seeks to facilitate peace in the war-affected eastern Congo and encourage Western mining investments in the area.

According to two diplomatic sources and Tina Salama, spokesperson for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, the meeting is scheduled for December 4.

A representative for Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the White House did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment on Friday.

A White House official informed Reuters last week that the Trump administration “is actively collaborating with both parties and anticipates welcoming them to the White House at the right moment.”

This year, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group executed a swift advance in eastern Congo, capturing the two largest cities in the region and heightening concerns about a potential broader conflict that might involve additional neighboring countries of Congo. The recent outbreak of violence has resulted in the deaths of thousands and has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

MINIMAL ADVANCEMENT ON THE GROUND DESPITE AGREEMENTS

The upcoming meeting is anticipated to expand upon a U.S.-brokered peace agreement finalized in June, which was signed by the foreign ministers of both countries, as well as a Regional Economic Integration Framework that was established earlier this month.

Salama stated that the heads of state are anticipated to ratify both.

“The president has consistently advocated for regional integration; however, the respect for sovereignty remains non-negotiable and is essential for achieving such integration,” she stated.

The Trump administration has discussed enabling billions of dollars in Western investment in a region abundant in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium, and various other minerals.

In September, Congo and Rwanda reached an agreement to put into action the security measures specified in the June deal by the year’s end.

These involve actions aimed at neutralizing the threat posed by the Congo-based armed group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and supporting the withdrawal of Rwandan troops.

Up to this point, there has been a lack of substantial advancement on the ground.

Rwanda has denied supporting M23; however, a group of United Nations experts stated in a July report that Rwanda maintains command and control over the rebels.

Qatar has facilitated discussions between Congo and M23, and this month the two parties signed a framework agreement for a peace deal, although numerous details remain to be negotiated.

Tshisekedi informed members of the Congolese diaspora in Serbia about his upcoming trip to Washington, as stated in a post on X released by his office on Friday.

However, he also stated that Rwandan troops need to withdraw from eastern Congo for genuine regional economic integration to occur.