U.S. pushes for Rwandan Troop withdrawal before DRC peace deal

The United States is brokering a peace initiative to end the conflict in eastern Congo by making the withdrawal of Rwandan troops a precondition for signing any peace agreement, according to diplomatic sources cited by Reuter. Washington’s draft agreement, reportedly drafted by U.S. officials, stipulates that Rwanda must remove its troops, weapons, and equipment before a peace deal can be finalised.

President Trump’s administration hopes to tie the peace process to billions of dollars in Western investment targeting the mineral-rich region, which boasts vast reserves of tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium, and other critical resources. President Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, said Washington wants to finalise the agreement within about two months—a tight deadline for resolving a conflict with origins in the 1994 Rwandan genocide

Rwanda considers armed groups in eastern Congo an “existential threat” and has backed the M23 rebel group, which has rapidly advanced into strategic cities like Goma and Bukavu. Kigali has denied official military involvement, framing its support as defensive against militias linked to the 1994 genocide.

Peace talks have been facilitated by the U.S. in Washington and Qatar, alongside mediation efforts by African governments. The draft deal also includes the establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism and extends participation to M23 in national dialogue—a proposal Congolese officials view as controversial.

An agreement linking minerals-for-peace, where Congo’s mineral wealth fuels economic recovery, could attract much-needed foreign funding. Critics warn, however, that Rwanda’s troop withdrawal may prompt a security void in the region. Meanwhile, the African Union, the UN, and neighboring states continue pushing for a sustainable resolution to the conflict and regional tensions.