The temporary agreement is expected to be signed on June 27 with the aim of ending the fight in the East DRC.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a temporary agreement aimed at stopping conflict in East DRC, according to a joint statement of the two countries and the United States State Department.
The development in Washington DC was late on Wednesday after “a three -day constructive conversation about political, security and economic interests.”
The draft agreement includes provisions on matters, including disarmament, integration of non -state armed groups and the return of the refugees and the return of people who are internally displaced.
East DRC has been turned into conflict for decades, with armed groups competing for access to natural resources. The fight was exacerbated when the Rwanda-backed M23 Rebel Group conquered Goma, the largest city in the mineral-rich area. A few weeks later, the group captured Bukawu and seized the strategic town. Rwanda has refused to support the rebels.
Thousands of people have died in the area and hundreds of thousands have been displaced since the conflict intensified early this year.
Several parties related to conflict are accused of violating human rights.
In a report published in May, Amnesty International M 23 is accused of torturing and killing civilians.
“These acts violate international humanitarian law and lead to war crimes,” Amnesty said at the time.
On Monday, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volkar Turk, rebels, DRC forces and related armed groups said they all carried out a human rights violation.
Turk called for all sides to “commit to ceasefire immediately and resume negotiations and honor the international humanitarian and human rights law.”
The US hopes to end the struggle in Eastern DRC and unlock a billion dollar Western investment with large mineral deposits including Cobalt, copper, gold and lithium.
US Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio described the goals of peace and investment as “victory-win”.
As part of diplomatic efforts, Africa’s US Ambassador Masad Bowlos traveled to DRC and Rwanda in April. During his visit, he urged Kigali to end his support for M23 rebels.
Since 2021, African countries have agreed to at least six Trusses, but nothing remained.
Angola stepped down from his role as an intermediary in March, while the US and Qatar led the effort to seek peace in the East DRC.
The draft agreement will be signed on June 27 in the presence of DRC and Rwanda’s ministers in the presence of Rubio.
