WASHINGTON — The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda on Friday signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long deadly fighting in eastern Congo while helping the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region.

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a peace deal in Washington aimed at ending decades of devastating conflict between the two neighbours, and potentially granting the US lucrative mineral access. The deal demands the "disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration" of armed groups fighting in eastern DR Congo.

A peace agreement brokered by the White House to stem the bloodshed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is to be signed Friday in Washington D.C. between DRC and Rwanda.