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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.
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.
November 2, 2024 at 3:07:13 PM
Modified:
Published:
November 2, 2024 at 3:10:07 PM
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.
This clause refers to terms agreed in Doha, where Qatar is hosting separate talks between Kinshasa and the rebels.
A top official from President Félix Tshisekedi’s team told Reuters:
The complete withdrawal of Rwandan troops is a non-negotiable prerequisite.
Meanwhile, Rwanda has not officially responded to the draft deal. But Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said that Congolese and Rwandan experts will meet in Washington this week.
What’s in the Deal?
The American draft outlines:
Full Rwandan troop withdrawal before signing
A Joint Security Coordination Mechanism with international observers
M23 rebels to be included in a national dialogue, a big ask for Kinshasa, which labels M23 as terrorists
But progress is slow. A rebel official told Reuters that no final agreement has been reached on M23 pulling back from occupied areas.
Big Picture
The US wants to stabilize the region and open it up for Western investment. But tensions are high. If Kigali resists the troop withdrawal demand, it could delay peace talks or collapse them altogether.
With Qatar mediating and the US applying pressure, the coming weeks could decide the fate of eastern Congo.
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