Congo and Rwanda have submitted adraft peace proposal as part of a U.S.-led initiative to end fighting in eastern Congo and attract Western investment, according to Massad Boulos, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior advisor for Africa and the Middle East.
This marks the latest step in a U.S. effort to resolve the long-standing conflict in the mineral-rich region.
While Boulos announced the submission of the draft proposal on X, neither Kinshasa nor Kigali has publicly confirmed doing so. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stated on X on Saturday that the two sides’ contributions “have not yet been consolidated.”
The foreign ministers of Congo and Rwanda had agreed last month in Washington to submit the draft proposal by May 2.
Boulos indicated that the plan is for a meeting in mid-May between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (replacing Marco Rubio from the previous administration) and his Rwandan and Congolese counterparts to finalize the peace accord.
Before the accord can be signed, Rwanda and Congo must finalize bilateral economic agreements with Washington. These agreements aim to attract billions of dollars in investment from U.S. and Western companies in Congolese mines and infrastructure projects, as well as mineral processing in Rwanda.
The goal is to have all three agreements signed in the near future at a ceremony attended by U.S. leadership.
These diplomatic efforts are occurring amidst ongoing fighting in eastern Congo, including advances by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
The United Nations and Western governments have accused Rwanda of providing support to M23, which Rwanda denies. Rwanda claims its military actions have been in self-defense against the Congolese army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.
The Congolese government is also engaged in separate talks with M23, facilitated by Qatar. While Congo and the rebels agreed last month to work towards peace, progress has been slow.
M23 is not involved in the Washington talks, but a spokesperson for the rebel alliance expressed support for any peace initiative.
Fighting continues in eastern Congo, with accusations that M23 seized the town of Lunyasenge
