US to host Congo, Rwanda officials for talks on stalled peace efforts, sources say

The United States has called senior officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to Washington this week for talks on the stalled peace process in eastern Congo, two diplomatic sources and a spokesperson for Congo's presidency said.

Bilateral meetings between the US and each side are scheduled for March 17, with a trilateral meeting on March 18 if progress is made, the sources said.

It would mark the first encounter between the parties since the US Treasury sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officers on March 2.

A spokesperson for Congo’s presidency said the gatherings were long‑planned meetings of the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) and the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), part of ongoing discussions under the so‑called Washington agreements between Congo and Rwanda, which cover a bilateral peace accord and a DRC–US strategic partnership.

Washington has publicly blamed Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel group for the continued violence in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies backing M23.

The meetings take place as dozens of African government officials gather in Washington for the Powering Africa Summit, including several energy ministers from across the continent.

M23 staged a lightning advance in eastern Congo in January 2025 and still holds large swathes of territory.

Rwanda's minister for foreign affairs and the US Department of State did not immediately respond to requests for comment.