DR Congo and Rwanda vow to agree peace plan within days
Summary
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have committed to respect each other's sovereignty and formulate a draft peace deal by 2 May. This follows the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians due to actions of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the DRC.Key Facts
- An agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and draft a peace plan by 2 May was signed by the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC, in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- This agreement comes amid the widespread displacement of civilians caused by M23 rebels in the mineral-rich territories of eastern DRC.
- The M23 rebels currently control Goma and Bukavu - the two largest cities in eastern DRC.
- The DRC government sought the assistance of the US after losing territory, in exchange for access to these minerals.
- The agreement anticipates significant investments facilitated by the U.S. government and private sector.
- Despite the ongoing negotiations, fighting continued in North Kivu province on the day of the peace agreement signing.
- Some 7,000 people have been killed in eastern DRC since the start of this year.
- The DRC accuses Rwanda of arming and supporting the M23 rebels, a claim which Rwanda denies despite assertions from the UN and the US.
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