Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda will not sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) this week, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations, marking another obstacle in efforts to stabilize the region. The agreement, expected to be initialed during final talks in Washington, was finalized in text but not signed due to Kinshasa’s refusal to proceed while Rwandan troops remain in eastern Congo. n nThe U.S.-mediated peace process, established in June, included commitments from both nations to withdraw military forces and launch economic cooperation within 90 days. That deadline passed at the end of September without full implementation. A key condition set by Congo is the withdrawal of approximately 7,000 Rwandan soldiers supporting M23 rebels, which analysts and diplomats have documented. n nDespite the setback, a Rwandan official expressed continued belief in the U.S.-led mediation and the economic framework’s potential, stating that the negotiating teams had completed the document but were disappointed by the last-minute decision not to initial it. Another source indicated that Congo insists on 90% troop withdrawal before moving forward. n nThe Trump administration has been actively promoting regional stability to attract Western investment, particularly given the area’s vast reserves of cobalt, copper, lithium, tantalum, and gold. However, ongoing military reinforcements by both sides and mutual accusations of non-compliance have undermined confidence in the peace deal. n nMassad Boulos, senior advisor for Africa under President Trump, had hoped for a high-level signing by October 23 during a planned visit to Washington. The framework had already gained approval from both governments and underwent consultations with private sector actors, multilateral financial institutions, and other stakeholders. n nThe June agreement also called for the conclusion of Congolese military operations against the FDLR, a group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, within the same 90-day window. While Rwanda denies direct support for M23, evidence from diplomatic and analytical circles suggests substantial involvement. n nU.S. officials are now working to revive momentum in the process, though no new signing date has been announced. Congo, Rwanda, and the U.S. State Department have not yet issued official comments on the delay. n— news from Reuters
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Congo, Rwanda will not sign economic deal this week in setback for peace process
WASHINGTON/DAKAR/PARIS, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda will not sign an economic framework this week as expected, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday, in another stumbling block for the Trump administration ‘s efforts to implement a peace deal and spur Western investment in the region. n nPresident Donald Trump is pursuing an ambitious bid to broker peace and draw billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in eastern Congo in January and February, posing the biggest threat to the government in Kinshasa in two decades. n nSign up here. n nThough he says the war is over, the peace agreement reached in Washington in June has faced setbacks and Congo ‘s army and M23 rebels are reinforcing military positions and blaming each other for going back on various agreements. n nCongo and Rwanda, which denies supporting M23, were expected to initial an agreement known as the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) this week after a final round of negotiations in Washington. n nBut a Rwandan official said that while the text was finalized, negotiations concluded without any initialing after Kinshasa was unwilling to sign. n nThe official and other sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive, ongoing diplomacy. n nA second source familiar with the matter said Congo would not sign the economic framework until 90% of Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo. The withdrawal of Rwandan troops is part of a wider peace deal mediated by Washington that the countries signed in June. n n”They ‘re going to have to get Trump on the phone,” the source said. n nUS AIMS TO GET TALKS BACK ON TRACK n nThe U.S. is trying to get the process back on track, the Rwandan official said, but the initialing was not expected to take place on Friday. n n”The negotiating teams had finalized the text of the REIF agreement but disappointingly, Kinshasa decided at the last minute not to initial it,” the Rwandan official said. n n”We believe in this agreement and in the approach of the US mediation, and hope that the economic agreement will eventually be signed. The peace process must succeed,” the official added. n nCongo, Rwanda and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. n n”The agreement has been finalized but the Congolese had never made any secret of the fact that they would not sign as long as the Rwandan army remained on their territory. So for us, it is not a surprise,” an African diplomat said. n nThe Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers on June 27 signed a peace deal in Washington, which included a pledge to implement a 2024 agreement that said Rwanda would lift its defensive measures in eastern Congo within 90 days. n nCongolese military operations targeting the FDLR, a Congo-based armed group that includes remnants of Rwanda ‘s former army and militias that carried out the 1994 genocide, are meant to conclude over the same timeframe. n nRwanda has sent at least 7,000 soldiers over the border, according to analysts and diplomats, in support of the M23 rebels. n nKinshasa and Kigali were also meant to launch the regional economic integration framework within 90 days, the Washington agreement said. The 90-day deadline fell at the end of September. n nTwo sources familiar with the matter said that Trump ‘s senior advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, had hoped that the economic framework and other agreements would be signed by heads of state on a visit to Washington by October 23. n nRwanda and Congo had agreed to the draft, which was then discussed by stakeholders, including the private sector, multilateral banks and others, before meeting this week for the final round of negotiations. n nReporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, Jessica Donati in Dakar, Sonia Rolley in Paris and Ange Kasongo in Kinshasa; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Daniel Wallis n nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab n nDaphne Psaledakis is a foreign policy correspondent based in Washington, D.C., where she covers U.S. sanctions, Africa and the State Department. She has covered the rollout of U.S. sanctions on Russia after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Washington’s efforts to enforce its sanctions and the U.S. response to the conflict in Ethiopia, among other issues. She previously covered European Union politics and energy and climate policy for Reuters in Brussels as part of an Overseas Press Club Foundation fellowship in 2019. Daphne holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Print and Digital News and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.