US Tells Rwanda: No Peace Deal Until Troops Leave DRC
The US says a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda won’t happen unless Rwandan troops fully withdraw from Congo.
June 10, 2025 at 5:18:50 PM
May 15, 2026 at 7:03:32 PM
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The United States has made it clear: Rwanda must pull out all troops from Congo before any peace deal can be signed.
According to a Reuters investigation by Sonia Rolley and David Lewis, the US has added a tough new demand in efforts to end the war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The draft peace deal seen by Reuters, clearly states that Rwandan troops, weapons, and military equipment must all leave Congolese territory before a deal is signed.
Four diplomats confirmed that this draft was written by US officials. It is meant to move beyond the symbolic April “ principles agreement ” signed in Washington by Congo and Rwanda’s foreign ministers.
Why It Matters
The US wants peace and billions in mineral-rich investment in eastern DRC, which holds gold, lithium, copper, cobalt, and tantalum.
Massad Boulos, Trump's top Africa adviser, told Reuters the US wants this deal done within two months.
But experts say that’s ambitious due to deep-rooted tensions going back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Kigali’s Dilemma
Rwanda claims its presence in eastern Congo is for self-defense, mainly against FDLR, a Hutu militia linked to the genocide. But Western analysts say this group is no longer a real threat. Instead, evidence shows 7,000 –12,000 Rwandan soldiers are backing M23 rebels, who recently took major cities in a fast offensive.
Rwanda denies supporting M23. But the US draft agreement says:
Rwanda shall take all possible measures to ensure M23 withdraws from the territory it controls.
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