After years of fighting, DR Congo and Rwanda signed a historic peace deal.
On June 27, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a historic peace deal. This could be the end of decades of armed conflict that has destroyed eastern Central Africa.
“This agreement marks a new beginning for our region and a chance for our people to finally live in peace,”
said a joint statement from both governments as foreign ministers signed the US-brokered deal in Washington, D.C.
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The signing ceremony at the US State Department was historic. It brought together:
- Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba
- Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio (presiding)
President Donald Trump, who helped with the talks, called the deal “a wonderful day for Africa and for the world,” making him a key peacemaker in one of the continent’s most difficult conflicts.
The United Nations says this is one of the world’s most complicated humanitarian crises, with 30 years of violence that has:
- Killed thousands of people
- Forced more than 7 million people to leave their homes
The conflict got a lot worse earlier this year when the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda, took over major cities like Goma and Bukavu and important airports in the North and South Kivu provinces.
Framework for Strategy and Important Provisions
The full agreement sets up many ways for lasting peace, such as the “disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration” of armed groups in eastern DRC.
Key Implementation Timelines
| Action Item | Timeline |
| Regional economic integration framework | Within 90 days |
| Joint security mechanisms setup | Within 30 days |
| Rwandan troop withdrawal | Within 3 months |
Critical withdrawal timelines say that thousands of Rwandan troops now in eastern Congo must leave within three months. The agreement also talks about disarming the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia group that Rwanda sees as a threat to its very existence since the 1994 genocide.
Additional Provisions
The deal makes it easier for:
- Refugees and people who have been forced to leave their homes to return
- Humanitarian groups to get access to areas affected by conflict
International oversight will be provided by:
- The United States
- Qatar
- The African Union
- UN peacekeepers (continued civilian protection)
Mineral Access and Economic Dimensions
The deal not only includes peace terms, but it also gives the US a lot of chances to invest in the DRC’s huge mineral wealth, which is worth about $24 trillion.
Strategic Minerals Include:
- Tantalum
- Gold
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Lithium
All important materials that are needed for smartphones, electric cars, and renewable energy infrastructure.
President Trump said,
“We’re gaining a lot of mineral rights in the Congo as part of it,”
which made it clear that he knew the deal would be good for the economy. This strategic access could make it harder for China to stay on top in the DRC’s cobalt industry. It could also help the US move to cleaner energy and make more technology.
Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law, helped the two sides reach an agreement. He is also a senior advisor on Africa. Some industry experts say that this could reduce China’s power in the area while giving American businesses better access to important mineral supplies.
Problems with Implementation and Doubt
Even though everyone is happy, there are still big worries about whether the deal will work.
Joseph Kabila, the former president of the DRC, called the agreement “just a trade deal” and asked why M23 representatives were not at the talks in Washington. The rebel group, which now controls a lot of land and mining operations, has not agreed to the disarmament terms.
Yvon Muya, a political analyst at Saint Paul University, said that
“the durability of the agreement relies heavily on the commitment of both Congolese and Rwandan authorities.”
Previous attempts at peace have failed because they weren’t carried out properly and regional actors kept supporting proxy forces.
Outstanding Concerns
There are still a lot of questions about:
- When M23 forces will leave
- How FDLR will be neutralized
Rwanda has always denied helping M23, but it says that its military presence is only there to protect against Hutu militias connected to the 1994 genocide.
Questions that Come Up a Lot
Will the M23 rebels really leave the areas they have taken over?
- The agreement doesn’t say anything specific about M23’s territorial gains; it just says that Rwanda should stop “defensive measures.” It’s still unclear if the rebel group will follow through because they weren’t directly involved in the talks.
How will we know that Rwandan troops are leaving?
- The agreement sets up ways to keep an eye on things through Angolan-mediated frameworks from the past, with the US, Qatar, and the African Union keeping an eye on things from the outside.
What happens if one side breaks the deal?
- President Trump said that “bad things happen” if parties don’t follow the rules, but he didn’t say how they would be enforced.
Will this deal work when others have failed?
- For things to work out, there needs to be ongoing support from other countries, real commitment from both governments, and a focus on the root causes of the problems, such as the FDLR threat that worries Rwandans about their safety.
A Cautious Dawn of Hope
This Washington Accord is the most important diplomatic breakthrough in Central Africa in decades. It gives real hope to millions of displaced civilians who have suffered unimaginable pain. The success of the agreement will depend on turning diplomatic promises into real actions on the ground, and the international community will keep up the pressure for full implementation.
Skeptics are right to point out that previous peace efforts have failed, but the involvement of major powers and the economic incentives for compliance make this effort different from previous ones.
The next 90 days will be very important as both countries try to set up the promised frameworks. The world will be watching to see if this historic moment can finally bring lasting peace to one of Africa’s most troubled areas.
