Washington: Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Republic of Rwanda initialed the full text of the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), overseen by U.S. Under Secretary Hooker and Senior Advisor Boulos. This significant development was announced in a statement released by the Governments of the U.S., DRC, Rwanda, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission on the occasion of the fourth Joint Oversight Committee held this week in Washington, D.C. According to Kuwait News Agency, the REIF outlines key areas for fostering economic cooperation and development between the two nations. It demonstrates the tangible benefits of peace and creates opportunities for investment and growth that directly benefit people in the region. The implementation of this framework remains contingent upon the satisfactory execution of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Operational Order (OPORD) under the Peace Agreement, highl ighting the critical link between peace, stability, and economic progress. The Committee noted lagging progress and committed to increasing efforts to implement the Washington Peace Agreement. The Parties agreed on specific near-term actions in line with their respective obligations for neutralizing the FDLR armed group and its associated groups. This includes advancing disengagement of forces and lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda, reviewing preparations for military operations in a named area of interest, and adopting an implementing agreement, as stated in the announcement. Both Parties acknowledged efforts to translate their obligations into tangible actions on the ground, reaffirming their commitment to refrain from hostile actions or rhetoric. This includes avoiding political attacks or language that would undermine or complicate the full implementation of the Peace Agreement, particularly in international fora. In June, Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington aimed at ending the armed conflict between the army and the Rwanda-backed M23 movement.
