Washington, D.C. – December 5, 2025 – In a ceremony marked by cautious optimism and strong praise for U.S. diplomacy, the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a landmark peace and economic agreement brokered by President Donald Trump. African leaders present hailed the accord as a historic opportunity to end one of the world’s longest and deadliest conflicts in eastern Congo.
The agreement, signed at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace, commits both nations to immediate cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, joint operations against armed groups including the FDLR, and a comprehensive framework for regional economic integration focused on shared mineral wealth and infrastructure development.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame praised President Trump’s direct involvement, stating that Trump “saw the opportunity to contribute to peace, and he immediately took it.” Kagame described the deal as containing “everything needed to end this conflict once and for all,” while emphasizing that future success now rests with African leaders themselves. “If this agreement falters, the responsibility will not lie with President Trump, but with ourselves,” he said, adding that Rwanda’s sole objective has always been its own security and that the country now looks forward to a stable and prosperous future.
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi called the accord a genuine “turning point,” stressing that it is far more than another symbolic document. He highlighted its dual focus on political and security commitments alongside a concrete economic integration plan designed to break cycles of violence, forced displacement, and mutual distrust. Tshisekedi pledged his government’s full and sincere implementation of all obligations and expressed hope that the agreement would mark an irreversible shift from confrontation to cooperation and sustainable peace across the Great Lakes region.
Kenyan President William Ruto described the signing as a “decisive act to end a devastating conflict that has scarred the region for decades.” Speaking on behalf of many regional leaders, Ruto said the war in eastern Congo had destroyed livelihoods, destabilized the entire Great Lakes area, and threatened the continent’s future. He thanked Trump for achieving what he called a “transformative, consequential, and historic” breakthrough and vowed that Kenya and its partners would spare no effort to ensure the agreement is fully realized. In the same breath, Ruto urged President Trump not to overlook other African crises, specifically calling on him to support international efforts to resolve the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
Angolan President João Lourenço, the current chairperson of the African Union and a longtime mediator in the Congo crisis, underscored the immense natural wealth of the Great Lakes region—abundant water, arable land, forests, and critical minerals—resources he said are vital not only for Africa but for global food and energy security. “Nothing justifies this war,” he declared, expressing regret that previous African-led initiatives had failed to stop the violence. Lourenço thanked Trump for succeeding where others had not and appealed directly to both Kinshasa and Kigali to implement the agreement faithfully for the benefit of their peoples and the entire continent.
The conflict in eastern Congo, which reignited with intensity in 2021 following the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people—the largest internal displacement crisis on earth. Kinshasa and United Nations investigators have repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing military support to M23, charges that Kigali consistently denies, insisting its actions are defensive responses to threats posed by Hutu militias operating from Congolese soil.
Despite the celebratory tone in Washington, heavy fighting continues in parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations in recent days, and M23 representatives have stated they do not consider themselves bound by an agreement in which they did not directly participate. Analysts note that parallel mediation tracks, including Qatar-hosted talks with M23, will be essential for any durable ceasefire.
For millions of Congolese living in sprawling displacement camps around Goma, Bukavu, and elsewhere, the Washington ceremony offers a distant glimmer of hope amid ongoing hunger, cholera outbreaks, and insecurity. The true test of the accord will come in the weeks and months ahead: whether Rwandan troops withdraw, whether joint mechanisms against armed groups are activated, whether displaced families can return home, and whether promised American and regional investments begin to flow.
African leaders left Washington united in their public support and determination to see the agreement succeed. Whether this latest peace effort finally breaks the deadly cycle that has plagued the Great Lakes for three decades now depends on political will, rigorous monitoring, and the sustained engagement of the United States and its partners.
