WASHINGTON, April 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday set a goal of reaching a draft peace agreement by May 2 and vowed to respect each other's sovereignty following sweeping rebel gains.

The top diplomats of Rwanda, which has faced criticism for backing the M23 rebels, and DR Congo, which has seen major cities fall in its turbulent but mineral-rich east, signed a declaration in Washington in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The foreign ministers "commit to coordinate through existing channels to generate an initial draft peace agreement for the Participants' mutual review no later than May 2," it said.

The two countries "mutually acknowledge each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and commit to a pathway to resolve their disputes by peaceful means grounded in diplomacy and negotiation rather than hostile force or rhetoric," the declaration said.

Without naming the M23 rebels explicitly, the statement said that both countries acknowledged concerns of the other and would "refrain from providing state military support to non-state armed groups."

The two sides also said they would establish a "joint security coordination mechanism to counter non-state armed groups."

In a surprise announcement Wednesday, the DRC and M23 rebels said they had agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work toward a permanent truce.

Thousands have been killed in a conflict that has raged along the border of the two countries since January.

UN experts, the United States and other Western governments say that Rwanda supports the M23. Rwanda denies providing military support to the M23.

A new US envoy for Africa -- businessman Massad Boulos, who is the father-in-law of President Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany -- visited both capitals this month and has called for Rwanda to halt support and withdraw "all Rwandan troops from DRC territory."

Qatar, which has worked with Washington on a range of thorny diplomatic issues, spearheaded talks between Rwanda and the DRC.

The DRC has sought US support in part by offering to reach its own agreement with the United States on access to critical minerals found in the country that are vital for advanced technologies.

The joint declaration said the two sides expected "significant investments" facilitated by the US government and US private setor.

It said that the two countries would work with the United States on areas including mineral value chains and hydropower development.

Rwanda says its security in the eastern DRC is threatened by armed groups, notably the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, created by former Hutu leaders linked to the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The M23 consists mostly of Tutsis.