DRC, Rwanda to hold first summit under new Regional Economic Integration Framework

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, US President Donald Trump, and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi after signing the Washington Accords at the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C.

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Friday, December 5, 2025

The DRC and Rwanda are launching a US-backed Regional Economic Integration Framework to secure mineral supply chains, deepen cross-border trade, and support long-term peace across the Great Lakes region.

Leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are preparing to hold the first summit of their new Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), a bold initiative aimed at turning peace into measurable economic growth across the Great Lakes region.

The framework will guide collaboration in mining, tourism, energy, public health, and infrastructure, providing a platform for both countries to jointly develop key sectors.

The REIF, unveiled in June, stems from a wider peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, marking a historic moment for a region long plagued by armed conflict and the illicit trade of minerals.

The framework seeks to strengthen cross-border cooperation through joint planning, technical teams, and shared projects that will benefit communities on both sides of the border.

The United States has pledged its support, offering investment, technical assistance, and private-sector engagement.

A State Department fact sheet emphasised that the initiative aims to “unlock the incredible economic potential of the Great Lakes region made possible by peace” while opening opportunities for US companies to responsibly participate in strategic mineral supply chains.

As part of the agreement, the DRC and Rwanda plan to secure mineral supply chains by improving traceability, reducing smuggling, and reforming artisanal mining practices.

The broader goal is to transform the mining sector from a source of conflict into a driver of stability and shared prosperity. The US described the initiative as a pathway to “secure, reliable global critical mineral supply chains” while promoting responsible sourcing of strategic minerals by American firms.

The first REIF Summit will bring together technical teams tasked with designing and implementing cross-border initiatives.

Key focus areas include mining value chains, regional infrastructure projects, tourism in protected ecosystems, and coordinated public health programs.

The summit will also ensure that REIF activities complement the peace agreement, strengthening long-term regional stability.

At the signing ceremony, President Donald Trump highlighted the economic potential of the deal, announcing new bilateral partnerships with both countries in the mineral sector.

“We’re sending some of our biggest and greatest companies over to the two countries… we’re going to take out some of the rare earth and other assets and pay - and everybody’s going to make a lot of money,” he said, framing the agreements as part of a broader strategy to secure US access to critical minerals.

President William Ruto, who witnessed the signing between Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi at the United States Institute of Peace, called the agreement a turning point for the region.

“This conflict has destroyed livelihoods and threatened the future of the entire Great Lakes region,” he said. “Peace will open doors, integration will guide us, and private-sector dynamism will propel us forward.”