IGIHE has learned from reliable sources that Rwanda will be represented at the meeting.
The talks will mark the first direct engagement between the two sides in the U.S. capital since Washington imposed sanctions earlier this month on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and several senior Rwandan military officials, prompting protest from Kigali, which described the measures as “unjust” and “one-sided.”
In a statement released on March 2, Kigali argued that the sanctions ignore violations by the DRC and misrepresent the broader dynamics of the conflict in eastern Congo in light of the Washington Accords signed in December last year.
“The sanctions issued today by the United States unjustly targeting only one party to the peace process misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement read.
“Consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements by the DRC, and continue to cost many lives. Protecting Rwanda is a badge of honour which the Rwanda Defence Force carries very proudly,” it added.
Rwanda and the DRC signed the Washington Accords in Washington, D.C., in early December 2025, in a bid to restore peace in eastern Congo.
Despite the agreement, DRC-allied coalition, including the FDLR militia, mercenaries, Burundian soldiers and Wazalendo fighters, has continued launching attacks on AFC/M23 positions and densely populated areas using ground and drone offensives.
Rwanda maintains that its defensive measures along the border with the DRC will remain in place until the FDLR militia group is dismantled, as committed to under the Washington Accords.
The FDLR was formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled to eastern Congo after the genocide. Kigali has repeatedly accused the Kinshasa administration of harbouring FDLR forces, which pose a major security threat to Rwanda’s security.
The planned meeting in Washington could provide an opportunity to revive diplomatic engagement between Rwanda and the DRC under the framework of the Washington Accords. The agreement aims to address security concerns in eastern Congo while advancing regional economic cooperation.
The talks are expected to take place as dozens of African officials and private-sector representatives gather in Washington for the annual Powering Africa Summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Energy ministers from several African countries are expected to attend the summit alongside investors and U.S. officials.
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