In a landmark moment for peace in the region, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have officially signed a peace agreement in Washington. This pivotal accord aims to put an end to hostilities that have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. Both nations have committed to withdrawing support for militant groups, while President Donald Trump has proudly declared a new avenue for securing valuable mineral resources.
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“Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” President Trump remarked as he welcomed foreign ministers from both countries to the Oval Office. “This is a wonderful day.”
The agreement follows a surge in territorial gains by the M23, an ethnic Tutsi rebel faction linked to Rwanda, which has claimed significant areas in eastern Congo, including the strategically important city of Goma this year.
While Rwanda has denied direct support for the M23, it has emphasized the need for the dismantling of an opposing armed group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). This group has ties to the genocidal atrocities against Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
During the Oval Office meeting, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed the urgency for action, stating that the “irreversible and verifiable end to state support” for the Hutu militants must be the “first order of business.”
He highlighted that this process would be “accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures,” while prudently acknowledging the uncertainties that remain in the region. “We must recognize that there have been many previous agreements that have not been implemented,” he cautioned.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner echoed Nduhungirehe’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty. “This 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,” she stated.
The agreement further establishes a joint security committee to monitor the process and vaguely outlines plans for a “regional economic integration framework” to be finalized within three months.
Trump took a moment to reflect on the significance of the diplomacy that led to this deal and even mentioned a journalist’s remark suggesting he should be a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. He noted that the United States is poised to secure “a lot of mineral rights from the Congo,” pointing to the DRC’s immense reserves, which include lithium and cobalt, crucial for electric vehicles and advanced technologies—areas where China’s influence has been increasing.
As Trump candidly admitted, “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 agreement has received a mix of responses. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed it as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace, and stability” in the eastern Congo and the Great Lakes region. He urged both parties to fully adhere to their commitments, emphasizing the importance of ceasing hostilities and fulfilling agreed measures.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairman of the African Union Commission who attended the signing, welcomed this significant milestone, commending all efforts aimed at advancing peace and reconciliation in the region.
However, not all voices echoed the optimism. Denis Mukwege, a renowned gynaecologist and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, raised concerns, suggesting that the agreement could ultimately reward aggression and facilitate the exploitation of Congolese resources. “This would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and forcing the victim to alienate their national heritage in exchange for an uncertain peace,” he stated.
Similarly, Physicians for Human Rights, an organization with a substantial history of operating in the Congo, welcomed the move toward de-escalation but noted significant shortcomings in the agreement, particularly regarding accountability for past human rights violations.
As nations embark on this critical journey toward peace, the hope for a stable and prosperous future remains a shared aspiration among the people of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
