Rwanda said an accord due to be signed in Washington on Thursday could mark a step toward peace in eastern Congo.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed cautious optimism despite renewed accusations between Congolese forces and M23 rebels over ceasefire breaches.
He said progress was visible on the ground, noting that front lines had stabilised even as clashes continued to unsettle the region.
The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity will follow several US-brokered agreements, including an economic plan aimed at attracting major Western investment to the mineral-rich heart of Africa.
Nduhungirehe praised the US initiative, saying it brought economic incentives that could help end a conflict fuelled by tantalum, cobalt, gold and other vital resources.
He insisted Rwanda’s forces inside Congo were taking “defensive measures” and would withdraw only when Kinshasa neutralised the FDLR, a group rooted in the fallout of the 1994 genocide.
He accused Congo of launching airstrikes and drone attacks on M23 positions and civilian areas, questioning Kinshasa’s commitment to recent agreements.
Congolese Minister of Communications Patrick Muyaya rejected Rwanda’s claims and accused M23 of provoking recent violence to derail peace efforts.
He said the government had launched an awareness campaign ahead of a planned disarmament process for the FDLR, describing it as a crucial step toward stability.
Muyaya argued that true peace required the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to any support for M23 before development and regional integration could begin.
Both sides maintained hope that US President Donald Trump’s involvement would turn diplomatic promises into tangible progress on the ground.
