The United States is set to host senior officials from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda this week in a renewed diplomatic push to revive the stalled peace process in eastern DRC, according to diplomatic sources.
Bilateral engagements between Washington and each country are scheduled for March 17, with a potential trilateral meeting on March 18, contingent on progress in the initial discussions.
The talks will mark the first high-level engagement since the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on March 2 targeting the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officers. Washington has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali continues to deny.
The diplomatic initiative unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the M23’s rapid territorial expansion in eastern DRC in January 2025, which has significantly destabilised the region.
The meetings also coincide with the ongoing Powering Africa Summit in Washington, drawing multiple African government officials, including energy ministers, thereby amplifying the geopolitical significance of the engagement.