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

Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo are set to sign a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington on Friday, raising hopes for an end to years of fighting that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Congo and Rwanda will sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27 that aims to ending fighting in eastern Congo, the two countries and the US State Department said.