Rwanda and DRC Sign Peace Agreement in Washington to End Longstanding Conflict
Washington, The Gulf Observer: The Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a landmark peace agreement on Friday in Washington, D.C., aimed at ending years of conflict that have claimed thousands of lives and destabilized the mineral-rich Great Lakes region.
The agreement, brokered with diplomatic facilitation from Qatar and finalized under the auspices of the United States, marks a significant step toward regional stability and security, particularly in light of recent escalations involving the M23 rebel group and other armed factions.
Speaking at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the foreign ministers of both nations and praised the deal as a “new chapter of hope and opportunity.”
“Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” Trump stated. “This is a wonderful day.”
Key Commitments of the Peace Deal
Under the agreement, both Rwanda and the DRC have pledged to withdraw support for guerrilla groups and take steps toward ending hostilities. While the deal does not explicitly address the territorial gains made by the M23 group—an ethnic Tutsi rebel force with alleged ties to Rwanda—it does call for Rwanda to halt “defensive measures” taken in eastern Congo.
Rwanda has long denied direct support for M23 but has insisted on the disbanding of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu-led armed group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
At the signing ceremony held at the U.S. State Department, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stated that the “neutralization” of the FDLR must be a priority:
“The irreversible and verifiable end to state support for the FDLR should be the first order of business,” he said. “This process will be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures.”
While expressing cautious optimism, Nduhungirehe acknowledged the region’s complex history of failed agreements:
“We must acknowledge that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region, and beyond, because many previous agreements have not been implemented.”
DRC Emphasizes Sovereignty and Implementation
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized the agreement’s reaffirmation of state sovereignty and the need for real change on the ground:
“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,” she said.
The peace deal also includes the establishment of a joint security coordination body to monitor progress, and outlines a vague but promising timeline for launching a regional economic integration framework within three months.
The agreement comes after a year of intense conflict in the eastern DRC, particularly around the strategic city of Goma, which was seized by the M23. The region is home to some of the world’s most valuable deposits of cobalt, coltan, and other critical minerals, making it a geopolitical flashpoint.
Analysts view the Washington peace deal as a pivotal moment for the Great Lakes region, with the potential to pave the way for sustainable peace, economic development, and international cooperation—if implemented effectively.
