After signing a historic peace deal on June 27, the DRC and Rwanda have since continued to progress in their relations. On July 31, the two countries held their first meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee, where they were joined by the African Union, Qatar, and the United States. The committee “discussed progress on implementing the agreement,” a joint statement by DRC and Rwanda read.
The US State Department noted in a statement that meeting participants appointed Chairpersons to the Commission, agreed to governing terms, and prepared for the launch of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism. It added that the committee serves as a platform for implementing the Peace Agreement and resolving disputes.
On August 1, the two countries agreed on terms of economic cooperation across various sectors. The US State Department said the terms summarized a regional integration framework including: elements of cooperation on energy; infrastructure; mineral supply chains; national parks; and public health. Reuters reported that a source familiar with the matter said a preliminary draft of the framework has been agreed to and there would now be an input period to get reaction from the private sector and civil society before it is finalized.
The economic integration framework is designed, according to the peace deal, to introduce greater transparency into supply chains for critical minerals such as coltan and lithium, and should be effective by the end of September, RFI reported.
The department described the meetings as a “significant step” in implementing the peace agreement. It said, “The United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting these efforts and, as the parties make progress implementing the Peace Agreement, looks forward to hosting the Summit of the Heads of State in Washington, DC, to drive peace, stability, and economic prosperity.”
The conflict between DRC and Rwanda reignited violently earlier this year when the M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by between 3,000 and 12,000 Rwandan soldiers, captured strategic cities including Goma and Bukavu in January and February 2025. These gains compounded a humanitarian emergency across eastern DRC, where hundreds of thousands were displaced and around 7,000 people were killed in early 2025.
In addition to economic integration, the peace agreement signed on June 27 also outlined the following commitments:
- Respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities.
- Disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups.
- The establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, which incorporates a proposal discussed by the parties last year under Angolan mediation.
- The facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as humanitarian access.
After the peace deal was signed, Peace News Network (PNN) published three videos in which Goma residents discussed their hopes and skepticism around the deal. The residents said that the agreement represented a unique opportunity, but its success would depend on its concrete implementation and the genuine will of the stakeholders involved. Justin Mwanatabu, a teacher and political analyst, said that DRC and Rwanda had watched war continue after many meetings, and therefore “doubts are allowed.”
On July 19, M23 and the DRC government signed a ceasefire declaration of principles in Doha, Qatar. However, on July 29, Anadolu Ajensi reported that M23 rebels captured two villages in Masisi territory in eastern DRC, forcing villagers to flee and risking jeapordizing the Doha agreement. AA reported that fighting continues between M23 forces and Wazalendo militias, who support the Congolese army, across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. It remains to be seen whether the ceasefire will eventually be successful.
Keywords: DRC, Rwanda, economic cooperation, Congo, DR Congo, peace, progress, conflict, conflict resolution, Doha, Qatar, US
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
