Rwanda, Congo agree on steps to 'de-escalate tensions' in Washington meeting

The United States hosted representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, with talks centering on the stalled peace process in eastern Congo.



It marked the first encounter between the parties since the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officers on March 2.



Washington has blamed Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group for continued violence in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies backing M23. M23 staged a lightning advance in eastern Congo in January 2025 and still holds large swathes of territory.



The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda "agreed to a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground," according to a joint statement by the U.S., Congo and Rwanda released by the State Department on Wednesday.



"These efforts include a mutual commitment to specific measures to support each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the scheduled disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda in defined areas in DRC territory, time-bound and intensified efforts by the DRC to neutralize the FDLR, and the protection of all civilians."