Sat Aug 02 10:51:00 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have agreed on economic cooperation terms in areas like energy and mineral supply chains, a move towards implementing a peace deal brokered by the US. The agreement focuses on regional economic integration, with an emphasis on developing mineral processing capacity and ensuring the mineral trade doesn’t fund armed groups. The US-backed Lobito Corridor will be connected to new infrastructure. While specific projects like Ruzizi III hydropower and Lake Kivu methane exploitation are mentioned, critical minerals are a key focus. This progress comes alongside talks of Rwandan troop withdrawal from the DRC and Congolese military operations against the FDLR, though deadlines for some aspects of the peace deal, such as the joint security coordination mechanism meeting, have already passed. The DRC is also engaged in separate peace talks with the M23 rebels.

## News Article:

**DRC and Rwanda Forge Economic Ties in US-Brokered Deal Amidst Ongoing Peace Efforts**

**Washington D.C. -** The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have reached a landmark agreement on economic cooperation, marking a significant step towards fulfilling a peace accord signed in June. The agreement, brokered by the United States, lays the groundwork for regional economic integration, focusing on key sectors like energy, infrastructure, and crucially, mineral supply chains.

“This is a vital step towards stability and prosperity in the region,” a US State Department spokesperson stated. “By fostering economic partnerships, we aim to address the root causes of conflict and pave the way for a brighter future.”

The agreement emphasizes each nation’s sovereign control over natural resources and aims to develop robust mineral processing capacity within their borders. This is seen as crucial in combating the illicit mineral trade that has fueled conflict in the DRC, particularly between government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

The deal envisions attracting Western investment to the region’s vast mineral reserves, including tantalum, gold, cobalt, and lithium, while ensuring that mineral revenues do not finance armed groups. It also aims to improve cross-border interoperability of mineral supply chains. Furthermore, the countries agreed to integrate new infrastructure with the US-backed Lobito Corridor, signaling Washington’s intent to gain greater access to the region’s resources and counter Chinese influence.

Specific projects highlighted in the agreement include the Ruzizi III hydropower project and sustainable exploitation of methane gas from Lake Kivu.

While the economic agreement represents progress, challenges remain. The deal’s success hinges on the implementation of other crucial elements of the June peace accord, including the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern DRC and the conclusion of Congolese military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The deadline for establishing a joint security coordination mechanism has already passed, although a meeting is now scheduled for August 7 in Addis Ababa.

The DRC is also engaged in separate peace talks with the M23 rebels, with a deadline of August 18 for signing a peace agreement. The success of these multifaceted negotiations will be crucial in achieving lasting peace and unlocking the full potential of the DRC-Rwanda economic partnership.

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