Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement in Washington on Thursday aimed at ending a devastating conflict in eastern Congo that has claimed thousands of lives. Brokered with Qatari support and finalised under U.S. mediation, the deal commits both nations to halting support for armed groups and de-escalating tensions.
The signing ceremony, held at the State Department, was attended by the foreign ministers of both countries, with U.S. President Donald Trump hailing the agreement as a diplomatic breakthrough.
“Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” Trump said, adding, “This is a wonderful day.”
The agreement follows months of renewed fighting in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group — composed largely of ethnic Tutsis and widely believed to be backed by Rwanda — captured significant territory, including the key city of Goma. Although the deal does not specifically address the group’s territorial gains, it calls for Rwanda to end what it describes as “defensive measures” and for Congo to support the disbanding of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia with ties to the perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the “neutralisation” of the FDLR must be the first step toward peace, while warning of lingering uncertainty in the region due to previously unfulfilled agreements. His Congolese counterpart, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty and spoke of a chance for real change on the ground.
The agreement also establishes a joint security body to monitor compliance and includes a vague pledge to form a regional economic integration framework within three months.
While the United Nations and African Union welcomed the agreement as a step toward stability, it drew criticism from some human rights advocates. Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Congolese surgeon, warned that the deal appeared to reward aggression and legitimize the exploitation of Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
Trump, meanwhile, claimed credit for the diplomatic breakthrough, stating the U.S. could now access “a lot of mineral rights from the Congo.” He highlighted the region’s importance to the global supply of critical minerals like cobalt and lithium, used in electric vehicles and electronics.
Speaking to reporters, Trump admitted limited knowledge of the region’s history but referenced the 1994 Rwandan genocide, saying: “They were going at it for many years with machetes.”
Critics also pointed to the agreement’s lack of provisions for accountability or justice. Physicians for Human Rights noted “major omissions,” including the absence of mechanisms to address human rights abuses committed during the conflict.
As fighting subsides and diplomatic efforts intensify, the success of the peace agreement will depend heavily on whether both parties honor their commitments — and whether deeper political and economic grievances can be addressed beyond the ceasefire.
