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Rwanda has officially stated that no peace deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be signed on June 15, despite earlier reports suggesting a mid-June agreement. Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe clarified that negotiations are still ongoing, with experts from both sides working to finalize a comprehensive and realistic peace framework.
The announcement comes after weeks of diplomatic exchanges between Rwandan, Congolese, and U.S. officials, who had initially targeted mid-June for the signing of a peace agreement at the White House. However, Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that the timeline had to be adjusted to reflect the complexities of the discussions.
“The aim is to negotiate a comprehensive, realistic, and win-win peace agreement, which, when ready, will be submitted to Foreign Ministers for approval and to Heads of State for signing,” Nduhungirehe stated. He confirmed that physical negotiations at the expert level have now commenced in Washington, marking a crucial phase in the peace process.
The peace talks are centered on resolving the ongoing crisis in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels have seized key territories since January. The militant group, which UN experts and the U.S. claim has received military support from Rwanda, has been engaged in fierce battles with Congolese forces, leading to widespread displacement and humanitarian concerns.
Despite previous commitments to reach a draft peace deal by May 2, officials from both nations have struggled to consolidate their contributions into a single text. The next steps involve finalizing the draft agreement before presenting it to foreign ministers for approval.
The delay in signing the peace deal has raised concerns among regional observers, who fear that prolonged negotiations could lead to further instability. The U.S. special envoy for Africa, Massad Boulos, recently acknowledged receiving a draft text on a peace proposal, describing it as an “important step toward fulfilling the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles.”
Rwanda has consistently denied allegations of supporting M23 rebels, arguing that its security has long been threatened by armed groups operating in eastern DRC. The conflict has strained diplomatic relations between the two nations, with multiple ceasefires failing to hold in recent years.
As negotiations continue, both Rwanda and DRC remain under pressure to reach a lasting resolution that addresses security concerns and humanitarian needs. The international community is closely monitoring developments, with hopes that a finalized agreement will bring stability to the region.