The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to formally sign a peace agreement on June 27 in Washington, marking a major step toward ending years of conflict in eastern DRC. According to a joint statement released Wednesday, representatives from both countries have initialed the accord, which outlines commitments to territorial integrity and a ban on hostilities.

The agreement builds on a declaration of principles signed in April and was reached after three days of talks in Washington. The discussions covered political, security, and economic issues, with the United States and Qatar acting as mediators.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will witness the signing ceremony later this month.

The agreement includes provisions for the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups, a key issue in the region’s unrest.

One of the most prominent groups, M23, launched a major offensive in eastern DRC at the beginning of the year. The group, which UN and US experts say has received military backing from Kigali, captured the cities of Goma and Bukavu and established governing structures in the areas it controls. Thousands of civilians have been killed in the ongoing conflict.

Eastern DRC, rich in minerals and bordering Rwanda, has experienced violence for over three decades, with renewed fighting since the end of 2021 when M23 re-emerged.

Rwanda has denied supporting M23 but insists its own security is threatened by armed groups operating in eastern Congo, especially the FDLR — a group formed by Hutu extremists involved in the 1994 genocide.

In a statement last month, Rwanda said a final peace agreement would be signed in mid-June. That deal is now scheduled to be formalized on June 27.