The negotiation process toward a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda – mediated by the United States – is still shrouded in secrecy. 

On Friday, May 2, exactly one week after Kinshasa and Kigali had signed a “declaration of principles” in Washington, each capital was supposed to deliver the elements of a draft framework built around six pillars: territorial sovereignty, the fight against armed groups, the mineral trade, the return of displaced people and refugees, regional cooperation and the role of international forces.

The draft, however, is yet to materialize. The package under discussion – with a final peace treaty projected for June – also contains two bilateral economic deals with the U.S. One would channel multi-billion-dollar American investments into Congolese mines and related infrastructure. The other would reward Rwanda – long the sponsor of the AFC/M23 militia now lording it over eastern Congo – with development of its facilities to........

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