Congo and Rwanda agree on pathway to peace in US-brokered deal, signed agreement says

FILE PHOTO: A member of the M23 rebel group stands guard at Congo’s Central Bank, in Goma

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congo and Rwanda vowed to come up with a draft peace deal by May 2 and refrain from providing military support to armed groups, according to an agreement signed in Washington on Friday as part of diplomatic efforts to end violence in eastern Congo.

The agreement, reached amid an unprecedented advance by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in Congo, is expected to bring “significant” U.S. public and private investment to the region, which is rich in minerals including tantalum and gold, the final text said.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Sofia Christensen)