The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a landmark peace agreement in the United States, aiming to halt a long-running conflict in eastern DRC and usher in a new era of regional cooperation. The deal, mediated by the United States and Qatar, marks a significant turning point after decades of intermittent hostilities between the two African nations.
The signing ceremony took place at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Friday, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosting Congolese Foreign Minister Jean-Homme Mokoko and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta for the historic event.
The newly inked agreement outlines several key commitments. Kinshasa and Kigali are set to launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days and establish a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, stated that the agreement “heralded a turning point” for peace. He labeled the accord a crucial milestone in ending hostilities and rekindling the momentum for negotiations.
Nduhungirehe also underscored the need for an irreversible and verifiable end to the DRC’s alleged support for FDLR military groups. U.S. mediators stressed the importance of verification and follow-through, noting that past agreements were often left unimplemented and urging continued engagement and enforcement.
Ahead of the signing on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump commented, “We’re getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. They’re so honored to be there, and he said they never thought they’d be coming.”
Welcoming the foreign ministers to the White House, he expressed hope that the violence and destruction would come to an end, allowing the entire region to begin a new chapter of hope and opportunity.
