U.S. President Donald Trump has described the upcoming signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo as “a great day for Africa.” In a message posted on X by U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, Trump expressed delight over his role in facilitating the agreement, which is expected to be signed in Washington, D.C., next week. ALSO READ: Draft Rwanda-DR Congo peace deal reached at Washington talks “I am very happy to report that I have arranged, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a wonderful treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Rwanda,” he wrote. “This is a great day for Africa and, quite frankly, a great day for the world!” According to a joint statement released Wednesday, June 18, in Washington, D.C., technical teams from Rwanda and DR Congo finalised a draft of the agreement, which is scheduled to be signed by the countries’ foreign ministers next week. ALSO READ: Washington talks on DR Congo crisis: Negotiations for realistic, win-win peace agreement start June 15 Qatar, which has been leading a different peace initiative, participated in the U.S.-led talks as an observer, the U.S. Department of State said in the statement. The peace deal was originally expected to be signed by Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi at the White House in mid-June, following a Declaration of Principles signed by both countries’ foreign ministers on April 25. However, the signing was postponed due to delays in reaching a comprehensive, realistic, and win-win peace agreement acceptable to both sides. ALSO READ: Peace in DR Congo will only come when Kinshasa addresses FDLR threat – former US Assistant Secretary of State According to the statement, the agreement addresses political, security, and economic interests. Key provisions of the agreement include: respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities, disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups, establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, incorporating the October 31, 2024, Concept of Operations (CONOPS). ALSO READ: Why genocide ideology doesn’t dissolve three decades after dispersion of genocidaires It also includes the facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and improved humanitarian access, and a regional economic integration framework. Efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict gained momentum earlier this year when the AFC/M23 rebel group seized control of two major cities in eastern DR Congo, after defeating a Congolese government coalition that comprised the genocidal FDLR militia. Backed by Kinshasa, the latter was formed nearly three decades ago by remnants of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The group, designated a terrorist organization by both the U.N. and the U.S., has been accused of launching attacks on Rwanda and spreading genocidal ideology in eastern DR Congo. ALSO READ: Washington talks on DR Congo crisis: Negotiations for realistic, win-win peace agreement start June 15 While DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels, Kigali denies the allegations, asserting that it has taken necessary defensive measures to counter FDLR threats and DR Congo’s stated objective of destabilising Rwanda. In April, Qatar hosted Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi for talks on the conflict. Since then, Qatar has also mediated discussions between DR Congo and M23, leading to a commitment to cease hostilities.
