Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, has confirmed that President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi had both agreed to attend the planned Washington summit on regional peace and security before the meeting was abruptly postponed by the United States government.
Nduhungirehe said: “President Tshisekedi had, like President Kagame, confirmed his participation in the Washington summit that was scheduled for November 13, 2025, before it was postponed at the last minute by the U.S. administration. The three parties are currently seeking another date that fits their respective schedules.”
The high-level summit, expected to bring together leaders from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the United States, was seen as a crucial step toward easing renewed tensions in eastern Congo and advancing the implementation of ongoing peace agreements.
Diplomatic sources say the Washington meeting was intended to consolidate recent regional efforts following the Declaration of Principles between Kinshasa and the M23/AFC movement, and to discuss broader security arrangements under the African Union and East African Community frameworks.
While the postponement has raised questions about the momentum of international mediation, officials in Kigali and Kinshasa have expressed optimism that a new date will soon be confirmed.
Regional analysts say the planned summit reflects Washington’s renewed engagement in the Great Lakes region and its interest in stabilizing eastern DRC, where clashes between government forces, FDLR elements, and the M23 movement have drawn increasing global attention.
Nduhungirehe’s clarification illustrates Rwanda’s continued commitment to dialogue. “All sides remain open to constructive engagement,” a senior official in Kigali noted, “but progress depends on sincerity and respect for agreed principles.”
No new date has been announced, but diplomatic sources suggest the meeting could take place before the end of the year, depending on the leaders’ travel calendars.
Background: The Washington summit was part of a U.S.-led initiative to de-escalate tensions and revive the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. Both Kigali and Kinshasa had earlier signaled readiness for dialogue amid heightened regional and international attention on eastern Congo’s conflict dynamics.