Rwanda and DRC Sign Peace Agreement with U.S. Mediation

In a moment of cautious optimism, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a peace agreement in Washington, mediated by the United States. This accord aims to quell the long-standing conflicts that have resulted in the loss of countless lives. With the two nations pledging to curtail support for guerrillas, President Donald Trump took the opportunity to highlight the potential mineral wealth, calling it a significant achievement.

“Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” Trump declared as he welcomed the foreign ministers from both countries to the White House. “This is a wonderful day.”

The agreement follows intense activity by the M23, an ethnic Tutsi rebel group linked to Rwanda, which rapidly advanced through the mineral-rich eastern regions of the DRC this year and seized control of Goma, a key city. Intriguingly, the pact, crafted with Qatar’s assistance prior to Trump’s tenure, sidesteps the territorial gains of the M23, instead urging Rwanda to desist from its “defensive measures.”

Rwanda has consistently refuted claims of direct support for the M23, yet has demanded the disbandment of another armed faction, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), originally founded by ethnic Hutus with ties to the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

The agreement pushes for the “neutralization” of the FDLR. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe emphasized the necessity for an “irreversible and verifiable end to state support” for the Hutu militants, suggesting this should be their “first order of business.” This process, he noted, would “be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures,” but acknowledged a persistent uncertainty: “We must acknowledge that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region, and beyond, because many previous agreements have not been implemented.”

Congo’s Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, underlined the agreement’s emphasis on respecting state sovereignty, stating, “It offers a rare chance to turn the page, not just with words but with real change on the ground. Some wounds will heal, but they will never fully disappear.”

Additionally, the agreement proposes the creation of a joint security coordination body to oversee progress, alongside a vaguely outlined “regional economic integration framework” to be developed within three months.

Trump Takes Credit

President Trump was quick to claim recognition for the diplomatic efforts that led to this agreement. During a White House event, he invited a journalist onstage who remarked he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.

Discussing the matter with reporters earlier that day, Trump mentioned potential U.S. gains from securing “a lot of mineral rights from the Congo.” The DRC’s abundant reserves, including lithium and cobalt, essential for electric vehicles and advanced technologies, have made it a key target for global players, especially China.

Trump admitted his initial unfamiliarity with the conflict, alluding to the horrors of the 1994 Rwanda genocide: “I’m a little out of my league on that one because I didn’t know too much about it. I knew one thing — they were going at it for many years with machetes.”

The international reaction to the agreement has been largely positive, but not without reservations. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability” in the eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region: “I urge the parties to honor in full the commitments they have undertaken…including the cessation of hostilities and all other agreed measures.”

Germany praised the “excellent news,” urging its implementation, and French President Emmanuel Macron hailed it as a “historic step forward,” insisting that “peace must hold.”

However, dissenting voices remain. Denis Mukwege, famed for his efforts against sexual violence in the DRC and a Nobel laureate, expressed concern, stating the agreement effectively rewarded Rwanda and the U.S. “The deal “would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and forcing the victim to alienate their national heritage by sacrificing justice in order to ensure a precarious and fragile peace,” Mukwege remarked ahead of the signing.

Furthermore, Physicians for Human Rights acknowledged the de-escalation but criticized “major omissions,” chiefly the lack of accountability for rights violations.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring