Rwanda and DR Congo reach agreement on the outline of the economic framework

The US State Department reports that Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday agreed on the broad outlines of regional economic integration.

According to the international press, which quotes a document from the US department, the parties could cooperate on energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national parks and public health.

In June, the two countries signed an agreement to halt armed hostilities in the east of the DRC.

The agreement now reached is part of the promises of progress after the cessation of war, aimed at attracting foreign capital for the exploitation of natural resources.

The recent agreement is due to be signed at a meeting of heads of state at the White House. No date has yet been set for the meeting.

In Friday's declaration, Rwanda and Congo affirmed that each country has "full and sovereign control" over the exploitation, processing and export of its natural resources and recognized the importance of developing mineral processing and transformation capacity in each country.

Kinshasa considers the plundering of its mineral wealth to be one of the main factors in the conflict between its forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo.

The US State Department reports that Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday agreed on the broad outlines of regional economic integration.

According to the international press, which quotes a document from the US department, the parties could cooperate on energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national parks and public health.

In June, the two countries signed an agreement to halt armed hostilities in the east of the DRC.

The agreement now reached is part of the promises of progress after the cessation of war, aimed at attracting foreign capital for the exploitation of natural resources.

The recent agreement is due to be signed at a meeting of heads of state at the White House. No date has yet been set for the meeting.

In Friday's declaration, Rwanda and Congo affirmed that each country has "full and sovereign control" over the exploitation, processing and export of its natural resources and recognized the importance of developing mineral processing and transformation capacity in each country.

Kinshasa considers the plundering of its mineral wealth to be one of the main factors in the conflict between its forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo.