Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C., on Friday, aiming to end years of violent conflict that has devastated the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. Brokered with the support of Qatar and formalized at the U.S. State Department, the deal seeks to halt support for armed rebel groups and restore stability, though experts remain cautious about its long-term effectiveness.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted the foreign ministers of both nations at the White House, hailed the agreement as a major diplomatic success.
“Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” Trump said. He also emphasized potential U.S. access to Congolese mineral resources, calling the day “wonderful.”
The peace deal follows the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, an ethnic Tutsi militia with alleged ties to Rwanda, which seized key areas in eastern DRC earlier this year, including the strategic city of Goma. Rwanda has consistently denied direct support for M23 but has demanded the disarmament of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The agreement requires an end to all state support for armed groups, including the FDLR, and calls on Rwanda to dismantle its so-called “defensive measures.” Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stressed that neutralizing the FDLR must be a top priority.
“The irreversible and verifiable end to state support to the FDLR should be the first order of business,” Nduhungirehe said.
Despite backing the deal, Nduhungirehe acknowledged regional skepticism based on past failed agreements.
“We must recognize the great uncertainty in our region because many previous accords have not been implemented,” he added.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner highlighted the importance of preserving national sovereignty.
“This agreement 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 deal also establishes a joint security coordination mechanism and commits, though vaguely, to forming a regional economic integration framework within three months.
President Trump, while appearing somewhat unfamiliar with the conflict’s historical complexities, referenced the 1994 genocide by remarking, “They were going at it for many years with machetes,” and claimed credit for brokering the peace. He pointed to the DRC’s vast reserves of cobalt and lithium—essential for electric vehicles and currently dominated by Chinese companies—saying the U.S. would gain “a lot of mineral rights from the Congo.”
International reactions were mostly positive. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the deal as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace, and stability,” while leaders from Germany and France called it a historic opportunity requiring careful implementation.
However, not all responses were favorable. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, known for his advocacy for survivors of sexual violence in the DRC, criticized the agreement for seemingly favoring Rwanda and the U.S.
“It amounts to rewarding aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese resources, and forcing victims to sacrifice justice and their national heritage,” Mukwege said.
Human rights organization Physicians for Human Rights also voiced concern, noting the agreement lacks mechanisms for holding perpetrators accountable for human rights abuses committed during the conflict.
While the peace deal presents a hopeful turning point, its ultimate success will depend on sustained commitment, enforcement, and delivering real improvements for communities affected by decades of violence.
