New Date Sought for Kagame-Tshisekedi Meeting in Washington After U.S. Postponement

A new date is being negotiated for the high-level meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington, D.C., after the United States postponed the scheduled encounter of November 13, 2025.

The two leaders had been expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump for the signing of an economic development partnership agreement, designed to reinforce the peace accord Rwanda and the DRC concluded on June 27, 2025.

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed on November 12 that both presidents had agreed to attend the talks before Washington abruptly delayed them.

"President Tshisekedi, like President Kagame, had agreed to attend the Washington meeting scheduled for November 13, before the U.S. government postponed it at the last minute," Nduhungirehe said. "The three parties are now looking for another date that fits their schedules."

DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya told Radio France Internationale (RFI) that President Tshisekedi would only travel to Washington once Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo.

Kigali has repeatedly rejected claims of troop deployment, insisting it has only reinforced its border to prevent incursions by the FDLR and other armed groups operating in eastern DRC.

Nduhungirehe dismissed Muyaya’s statements, accusing him of deliberately misleading the public. He stressed that all parties had already agreed the Washington meeting would focus on finalizing and signing a bilateral economic cooperation agreement.

The draft agreement-approved by Rwandan and Congolese delegations on November 7-covers collaboration in key sectors such as mining, the joint construction of the Rusizi III hydroelectric dam, and cross-border trade facilitation.

President Trump has publicly stated several times that the economic pact would boost prosperity and stability in both countries and deliver broader regional benefits.

On July 9, he told reporters that Kagame and Tshisekedi were expected to meet in Washington “in the next few weeks” to sign what he described as “the final agreement.”

Despite U.S. assurances, persistent tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa have repeatedly jeopardized scheduling efforts.

Three months after Trump’s initial announcement, Washington again attempted to bring the two leaders together on October 23. However, within 20 days, the DRC government declared it would not sign any economic accord until security issues were resolved.

Subsequent talks led the U.S. to postpone the meeting to November 13, but that date also collapsed-this time without explanation.

According to Africa Intelligence, U.S. officials are now attempting to reschedule the meeting for November 21, following multiple unsuccessful attempts to convene the two presidents.