In a significant diplomatic development, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement in Washington during the weekend, aiming to end years of violent conflict and open the door to major Western investment in the mineral-rich region.
The deal, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, commits Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo within 90 days and launch a joint economic framework with Kinshasa.
The agreement, according to Reuters, is part of a broader initiative to stabilize the region and secure access to critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and tantalum.
At the signing ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe pledged to honor the terms of a 2024 framework that had previously stalled.
Read also: Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco Lead $95b Remittance Flow to Africa in 2024
President Trump later welcomed both ministers to the Oval Office, offering formal invitations to their respective heads of state to finalize the wider economic agreement—titled the Washington Accord.
The agreement outlines:
- Rwandan military withdrawal and verification mechanisms
- Joint security coordination within 30 days
- Disengagement of Congo’s operations against FDLR militias
- Creation of a mineral supply value chain backed by U.S. investors
- Support for Qatar-led M23 peace talks as a parallel effort
Trump warned of “very severe penalties” for any breach of the deal and emphasized that securing the peace would unlock U.S. mineral rights and investment opportunities in the region.
While previous peace efforts in the Great Lakes region have faltered, analysts say Washington’s high-profile involvement and economic incentives may give this initiative greater traction. Still, concerns remain about implementation and whether economic motivations alone can resolve deep-rooted ethnic and political tensions.
“This is the best chance we have at a peace process despite all the challenges,” said Jason Stearns, an Africa analyst at Simon Fraser University. “But it will require sustained U.S. oversight to succeed.”
Further agreements between Rwanda and Congo’s presidents are expected in Washington in the coming weeks.
Image Credit: Euronews.com
