The governments of the DRC and Rwanda have signed a Declaration of Principles affirming mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The agreement, facilitated by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of African Affairs, sets a political foundation for resuming normal bilateral relations and advancing regional economic development.
It explicitly acknowledges each country’s established territorial borders and calls for peaceful dispute resolution through diplomacy and negotiation—not force. Both parties committed to refraining from hostile actions, interference in internal affairs, or rhetoric that undermines each other’s sovereign rights.
“The mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity is the most fundamental starting point for regional peace,” the statement reads. “It is a firm rejection of the notion that borders can be redrawn through force or subversion.”
The eastern DRC has been plagued by insecurity for decades, with tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali intensifying over allegations of cross-border support for non-state armed groups. The new accord addresses these issues directly, with both parties acknowledging their legitimate security concerns and agreeing to establish a joint coordination mechanism to combat armed groups and criminal networks operating in the border region.
Crucially, the declaration also outlines a pathway for a phased regional economic integration framework, supported by U.S. government initiatives and private sector investment. The framework aims to transform the conflict-ridden region into a hub of shared prosperity, with commitments to transparency in resource management, infrastructure collaboration, and joint development of mineral value chains.
The agreement, witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was signed by DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe at the U.S. Department of State.
Further provisions include support for the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces (MONUSCO), and the development of a draft Peace Agreement, to be reviewed by both parties by May 2.
Should any disagreements arise over the draft, a high-level ministerial meeting will be convened in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Department of State.
The declaration follows months of shuttle diplomacy involving the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the African Union under Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé’s facilitation. It also comes amid ongoing Doha negotiations involving the DRC, Rwanda, and the M23/AFC armed group.
