The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda have agreed to draft a peace agreement by May 2 and to end their support for armed groups.

Congo’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, and her Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe, signed the Declaration of Principles in Washington yesterday, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio serving as a witness. As part of the agreement, both countries also committed to exploring the creation of a joint security coordination mechanism to combat armed groups and criminal networks operating in the region.

Speaking to reporters, Rubio said, the declaration lays the foundation for shared understanding on regional governance, security, and economic cooperation aimed at ending the conflict.

The US and the Congolese government accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of large areas in Congo’s mineral-rich east. The group’s actions have displaced more than a million people and seized valuable mining zones that produce gold, tantalum, tungsten, and tin ore.