U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leader Félix Tshisekedi in Washington for the signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict between the two countries.
The accord commits Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern Congo, while the DRC pledges to halt support for militia groups operating near the border. It also establishes a joint security coordination platform and an economic cooperation plan covering minerals, trade, and cross-border infrastructure.
Washington framed the deal as a strategic milestone, with Trump saying it would “shape a new era of stability and opportunity” in the Great Lakes region. Both Kigali and Kinshasa signaled that the agreement could renew stalled reconstruction efforts in North Kivu and Ituri, where communities have endured years of insecurity.
However, renewed clashes in eastern DRC have created immediate doubts. M23 rebels, widely reported by the UN to receive backing from Kigali, continued operations around Goma this week, pushing more families from their homes. Rights monitors warn that without rapid implementation, particularly troop withdrawal, militia demobilization, and independent verification, the accord risks following the path of earlier failed initiatives.
Kagame acknowledged the security setbacks but said Rwanda remains committed to the roadmap. Tshisekedi stressed that the agreement marks “a demanding beginning,” calling for sustained international oversight to ensure compliance and prevent a resurgence of violence.
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