U.S. Pushes Rwanda to Withdraw Troops from Eastern Congo Before Peace Deal

Edited by : Widad WAHBI

In a high-stakes diplomatic effort, the United States is pressing Rwanda to pull its military forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a condition for a long-anticipated peace agreement, according to multiple diplomatic sources. The move comes amid intense fighting in the mineral-rich region and growing international pressure to resolve one of Africa’s most complex and protracted conflicts.

Washington is brokering negotiations between Kinshasa and Kigali, aiming to facilitate not only peace but also unlock billions of dollars in Western investments across the DRC, home to vast reserves of tantalum, cobalt, gold, copper, and lithium—minerals critical for the global tech and clean energy industries.

A draft of the proposed agreement, obtained by Reuters and confirmed by four diplomatic sources, stipulates that Rwanda must fully withdraw its troops, equipment, and weapons from Congolese territory before any peace deal is signed. The draft, reportedly authored by U.S. officials, goes further than the April declaration signed in Washington by both countries’ foreign ministers alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which emphasized mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The demand for withdrawal poses a major challenge for Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s administration, which has long denied supporting the M23 rebel movement, despite repeated findings by UN experts and international observers to the contrary. Rwanda argues that its military actions in eastern Congo are acts of self-defense against Hutu militias operating in the region, many of whom are believed to be remnants of the forces responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Estimates suggest that between 7,000 and 12,000 Rwandan troops are currently operating in eastern Congo, backing M23 forces that have seized key cities and swathes of territory in rapid offensives since January. Congolese officials view Rwanda’s military presence as a fundamental obstacle to peace and have accused Kigali of deliberately stalling the negotiation process.

“We demand the total and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops as a precondition for signing the agreement,” a senior aide to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi told Reuters, warning that Kinshasa would not accept any compromise on this issue.

Meanwhile, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed that technical experts from both countries are expected to meet in Washington this week to continue discussions. Kigali has yet to respond officially to the draft proposal.

The U.S. proposal also includes provisions for a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, potentially involving Rwandan and foreign military observers, to address security concerns in eastern Congo—particularly the continued presence of Hutu militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Analysts argue that the FDLR’s operational capacity has significantly diminished, although Kigali continues to frame the group as a major threat to its national security.

Another contentious element in the draft is a provision allowing M23 to participate in a national dialogue on an equal footing with other Congolese non-state armed actors. For Kinshasa, which designates M23 as a terrorist proxy of Rwanda, such a concession would mark a significant and politically sensitive shift.

Separate talks hosted by Qatar between the DRC government and M23 leaders remain ongoing, but observers caution that any final peace agreement will hinge on Kigali’s willingness to disengage militarily from the conflict.

As pressure mounts, the United States is seeking to resolve a decades-old crisis whose roots trace back to genocide, displacement, and regional rivalries—factors that continue to shape the fragile peace dynamics of Central Africa.