Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed on an outline for a regional economic integration framework as part of a peace deal signed in Washington in June.
The framework includes cooperation on energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national parks, and public health.
Both countries have affirmed their sovereign control over the exploitation, processing, and export of their natural resources and recognized the importance of developing mineral processing capacity within each country.
The agreement aims to attract billions of dollars in Western investment to the region, rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium, and other minerals.
A joint security coordination mechanism meeting is set for August 7 in Addis Ababa, and the framework is planned to be signed at a meeting of heads of state at the White House, although no date has been set.
The two countries are committed to ensuring the minerals trade no longer funds armed groups and to creating a world-class industrial mining sector.
Specific projects mentioned include the Ruzizi III hydropower project and Lake Kivu methane exploitation, with both countries agreeing to prioritize financing for Ruzizi and work together to exploit methane gas sustainably.
