In a significant step towards peace in central Africa, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement at the White House on Friday, with President Donald Trump playing a pivotal role in the negotiations. The historic accord, brokered by the United States, seeks to put an end to years of violence and open a new chapter of development for the war-torn region.
The signing ceremony in the Oval Office was attended by Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and key U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. President Trump hailed the agreement as a cessation of the "largest war since World War II" and lamented the prolonged violence as a “shame” to the international community.
"Today, the violence & destruction come to an end, & the entire region begins a new chapter of hope." - President Donald Trump
Providing context to this landmark event, the conflict between Rwanda and Congo has been one of Africa's deadliest, rooted in ethnic tensions exacerbated by the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Rwanda's recent military intervention in eastern Congo, purportedly in support of the M23 rebel group, escalated the crisis, leading to thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands since January, as reported by Reuters.
Under the peace deal, Rwanda is obliged to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo within 30 days and to work alongside Congo to establish a joint security mechanism within the same period. The agreement also stipulates the launch of a regional economic integration framework within 90 days, and it highlights the importance of leveraging the mineral-rich provinces of North and South Kivu in Congo, known for their abundant deposits of tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium.
Trump's administration has taken a keen interest in the economic potential of the region, with the president noting that the United States would secure "a lot of the mineral rights." Moreover, he stressed the commitment of the U.S. in continuing to work with both nations to ensure full implementation of the agreement, warning of serious consequences for non-compliance.
This peace initiative represents a significant diplomatic triumph for the Trump administration, as it works to resolve one of Africa's most entrenched conflicts. The president underscored the promise of a more prosperous and peaceful future, a sentiment echoed by Vice President Vance, who expressed optimism for the peace deal's potential to be a turning point for the region.
As a conclusion to the day's events, President Trump signed letters congratulating the Rwandan and Congolese leaders on their commitment to peace and officially invited them to Washington, D.C. The agreement aims to provide a much-needed foundation for stability, economic growth, and regional cooperation in eastern Congo.
