DRC-Rwanda: Kinshasa blocks signing of regional economic agreement at the last minute

Kinshasa, September 29, 2025 - The Democratic Republic of Congo refused to sign the regional economic integration framework (CIER) negotiated with Rwanda under US mediation at the last minute, even though both delegations were ready to initial the text on Friday 3 October during discussions in Washington, after several days of negotiations. According to Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, President Felix Tshisekedi instructed his delegation not to sign, citing fears of a negative reaction from Congolese public opinion.

The CIER, the economic component of the peace process launched on 27 June 2025 in Washington, aimed to strengthen cooperation in the mining, industrial, energy, agri-food, tourism and health sectors, while building on the security commitments discussed within the framework of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (MCCS). Kigali rejects the argument that Kinshasa made the signing conditional on the prior withdrawal of its troops from the east of the country, describing this justification as a "media pretext".