Sunday, June 29, 2025 -Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a peace agreement in Washington on Friday, marking a significant effort to halt a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. The deal, brokered with Qatari support and signed at the U.S. State Department, aims to curb support for rebel forces and restore stability, though observers remain cautious about its long-term impact.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted the foreign
ministers of both countries at the White House, celebrated the agreement as a
diplomatic victory. “Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and
the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” he said. Trump
also highlighted potential U.S. access to Congolese mineral rights, describing
the day as “wonderful.”
The peace deal follows a resurgence of the M23 rebel group,
an ethnic Tutsi militia with alleged ties to Rwanda, that swept through parts
of eastern DRC earlier this year, capturing key areas including the strategic
city of Goma. While Rwanda has denied direct support for the group, it has
consistently called for the disarmament of the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia with roots in the perpetrators of
the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The agreement calls for an end to all forms of state support
for armed groups, including the FDLR, and for Rwanda to lift its so-called
“defensive measures.” Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe emphasized
that neutralizing the FDLR must be a priority. “The irreversible and verifiable
end to state support to the FDLR should be the first order of business,” he
said.
Despite his support for the deal, Nduhungirehe expressed
caution, noting the region’s history of failed accords. “We must acknowledge
that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region, and beyond, because
many previous agreements have not been implemented,” he added.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner
stressed the need for the agreement to uphold national sovereignty. “It 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 agreement also outlines the creation of a joint security
coordination body and vaguely commits to establishing a regional economic
integration framework within three months.
President Trump, who appeared unfamiliar with the historical
context of the conflict, alluded to the 1994 genocide by saying, “They were
going at it for many years with machetes,” and claimed credit for the peace
breakthrough. He told reporters the U.S. would gain “a lot of mineral rights
from the Congo,” referring to the country’s vast reserves of cobalt and
lithium, key components in electric vehicles and other technologies, currently
dominated by Chinese firms.
The deal received international praise. UN Secretary-General
António Guterres called it “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and
stability,” while leaders from Germany and France hailed it as a historic
opportunity that must be implemented with care.
However, not all voices welcomed the development. Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, renowned for his work supporting
survivors of s3xual violence in the DRC, criticized the agreement, arguing it
disproportionately benefits Rwanda and the U.S. “It would amount to granting a
reward for aggression, legitimising the plundering of Congolese natural
resources, and forcing the victim to alienate their national heritage by
sacrificing justice,” he said in a statement.
Physicians for Human Rights also raised concerns, pointing
out the absence of mechanisms to ensure accountability for human rights
violations in the region’s protracted conflict.
While the peace deal marks a potential turning point, its
success will depend on consistent implementation, accountability, and whether
it delivers meaningful change for those on the ground.
0 Comments