Technical teams from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached a preliminary peace deal, which is set to be officially signed next week, according to a joint announcement from the two countries and the United States. The goal is to put an end to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.

The draft agreement, finalised after three days of negotiations, aims to restore territorial integrity and halt hostilities. It also outlines steps for the withdrawal, disarmament, and conditional reintegration of armed non-state groups. A joint security mechanism is also part of the deal, drawing on proposals discussed in prior talks facilitated by Angola.

The formal signing is scheduled for June 27 at the ministerial level.

Previously, experts from both countries had reached similar agreements under Angolan mediation, which included commitments for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and coordinated actions against the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu rebel group. However, those agreements were never officially endorsed by ministers from either side.

Angola had been mediating in the conflict but stepped back in March after repeated efforts to resolve the dispute yielded limited results.

Violence in eastern Congo has intensified this year, particularly with the advance of the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda. The group captured the region’s two largest cities, sparking fears of a broader war.

Congo accuses Rwanda of supplying M23 with troops and weapons. Rwanda denies the accusations, insisting its actions are defensive, targeting hostile forces tied to the ethnic Hutu militias involved in the 1994 genocide, during which around one million people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, were killed.