A peace agreement brokered by the White House to stem the bloodshed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was signed in Washington D.C. on Friday by officials of the two African nations.

The U.N. accuses Rwanda of supporting rebels who have taken over large swathes of the Democratic Republic of Congo - home to valuable minerals.

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.