In a significant diplomatic development, the foreign affairs ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to sign a “Declaration of Principles” this Friday in Washington D.C., marking a new step toward easing long-standing tensions between the two neighboring nations.
The ceremony, which will be held at the U.S. Department of State, is being facilitated by the U.S. government and hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Congolese counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, will officiate the signing at 2:00 p.m. Washington D.C. time (8:00 p.m. Kigali time).
The contents of the declaration have not yet been made public, but the event has drawn international attention given the volatile nature of recent relations between Kigali and Kinshasa. The two countries have traded accusations over rebel activity along their shared border, with tensions threatening regional stability.
According to the U.S. State Department’s published agenda, the signing ceremony will be followed by closed-door bilateral meetings. Both Nduhungirehe and Wagner are expected to meet individually with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, in what sources suggest will be a continuation of high-level discussions aimed at fostering regional cooperation and reducing security risks.
The agreement comes amid increasing calls from the international community for Rwanda and the DRC to pursue dialogue and de-escalation. The United States has positioned itself as a key mediator in the process, reinforcing its strategic interest in maintaining peace in the Great Lakes region.
While officials have remained tight-lipped about the scope and impact of the declaration, analysts are hopeful that this symbolic agreement could lay the groundwork for future negotiations, security collaboration, and trust-building measures.
More details are expected to emerge following the signing and subsequent briefings.
