Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries signed the declaration in the United States. But fighting broke out between the M23 rebels and government forces, just a day after the declaration was signed.

The commitment to end the conflict was signed in the presence of United States (US) Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in capital of Washington DC.

Under the agreement, the two countries have committed to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also agreed to stop providing military support to non-state armed groups.

The DRC government has long accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels in order to plunder its mineral, but, Rwanda has denied the charge and in turn, has accused the DRC of supporting a militia of ethnic Hutus, who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, that targeted the Tutsi.

The two countries also committed to facilitate the repatriation of Congolese refugees, who fled to neighbouring countries. While the two countries are expected to come up with a draft of the implementation of the peace agreement, clashes erupted between the M23 rebels and government forces, and their allied militia over the weekend.

Officials say the fighting happened in a village in the eastern province of South Kivu, violating a ceasefire brokered by the State of Qatar last Wednesday.

Qatar and the US are mediating talks between the two countries to end the war and facilitate trade deals in the lucrative mining sector for their private firms.

---Reuters---