Four informed sources have indicated that the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda will not sign the anticipated regional economic framework this week, marking another setback for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in advancing a peace agreement and attracting Western investment to the mineral-rich region. n nThe Trump administration has been pushing to stabilize eastern Congo and unlock billions in foreign investment by leveraging the area’s vast reserves of tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium. This push follows the early-year capture of two major eastern cities by the M23 rebel group, which is widely believed to be backed by Rwanda—an event that posed the most serious threat to Kinshasa’s authority in two decades. n nAlthough a peace deal was formally announced in June under U.S. mediation, implementation has faltered. Both the Congolese military and M23 rebels have reinforced their positions and accused each other of violating ceasefire terms. n nFinal negotiations in Washington concluded without a signature. While Rwanda denies supporting M23, it had been expected to join Kinshasa in finalizing the Regional Economic Integration Framework this week. A Rwandan official confirmed that the agreement’s text had been finalized but stated that Kinshasa refused to proceed with signing. n nA second source revealed that Congo insists on the withdrawal of 90% of Rwandan troops from its eastern territories—a condition outlined in the June peace deal—before any economic agreement can be ratified. The Rwandan official expressed disappointment, saying, “The negotiating teams completed the drafting, but Kinshasa decided at the last minute not to sign.” He added that Rwanda remains committed to the U.S.-led mediation process and hopes the economic pact will eventually be signed, emphasizing that the peace process must succeed. n nAn African diplomat noted that the agreement was technically complete but said Kinshasa had made its position clear: no signature as long as Rwandan forces remain on Congolese soil. This stance, he said, was not unexpected. n nUnder the June agreement, Rwanda committed to withdrawing its defensive deployments from eastern Congo within 90 days, while Congolese forces were to conclude operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a group composed of remnants of the former Rwandan army and militias linked to the 1994 genocide—within the same timeframe. Diplomatic sources estimate Rwanda deployed approximately 7,000 troops in support of M23. n nThe 90-day window for launching the economic integration framework expired at the end of September. Meanwhile, Trump’s senior adviser on Africa, Mesac Bolles, had reportedly hoped for the economic deal and related agreements to be signed by heads of state during a planned visit to Washington by October 23. n— news from الجزيرة نت n
— News Original —nThe Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda will not sign the expected economic framework this week, according to four informed sources, marking a new obstacle to President Donald Trump’s efforts to implement a peace deal and attract Western investment to the mineral-rich region. n nTrump is seeking to establish peace and attract billions of dollars in Western investment to a region rich in minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium, after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in eastern Congo at the beginning of the year, posing the biggest threat to Kinshasa’s government in two decades. n nDespite the declaration of the war’s end, the peace agreement reached in Washington in June has faced setbacks, as both the Congolese army and M23 rebels reinforce their military positions and accuse each other of violating agreements. n nNegotiations ended without a signature. n nThe DRC and Rwanda, which denies supporting the M23 movement, were expected to sign an agreement known as the “Regional Economic Integration Framework” this week after a final round of negotiations in Washington. n nBut a Rwandan official said the text had been finalized, though negotiations ended without a signature due to Kinshasa’s refusal. n nA second source said the DRC will not sign the economic agreement until 90% of Rwandan forces withdraw from eastern DRC, a provision included in the US-mediated peace agreement reached in June. n nThe Rwandan official said, “Negotiating teams have finished drafting the agreement text, but unfortunately, Kinshasa decided at the last minute not to sign.” n nHe added, “We believe in this agreement and in the US mediation approach, and we hope the economic agreement will ultimately be signed. The peace process must succeed.” n nThe US State Department and the governments of the DRC and Rwanda did not respond to requests for comment. n nCongolese refusal n nAn African diplomat said, “The agreement has been finalized, but the Congolese never hid that they would not sign as long as the Rwandan army remains on their soil, so it was not surprising to us.” n nThe foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington on June 27, which included implementing a 2024 agreement stipulating that Rwanda would lift its defensive measures in eastern DRC within 90 days. n nThe Congolese military operations target the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, composed of remnants of the former Rwandan army and militias involved in the 1994 genocide, and these operations are supposed to end within the same timeframe. n nAccording to diplomatic sources, Rwanda sent about 7,000 soldiers to eastern DRC to support the M23 rebels. n nKinshasa and Kigali were supposed to launch the Regional Economic Integration Framework within 90 days, a period that ended at the end of September. n nTwo sources said Trump’s senior adviser on Africa, Mesac Bolles, had hoped the economic agreement and other deals would be signed by heads of state during a visit to Washington by October 23.