The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace and economic accord on Thursday, marking a rare moment of hope in a region scarred by decades of conflict.
US President Donald Trump hailed the agreement in Washington as the beginning of “a new era of harmony and cooperation” between the neighbouring countries.
Trump said he expected “very quick” progress on security, adding that both President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda were “great leaders” ready to turn the page on years of hostility.
He described the deal as “an amazing day for Africa,” noting that eastern Congo has suffered one of the world’s longest and most devastating crises, with millions displaced and thousands killed.
Trump said the pact creates space for economic integration, arguing that the region’s vast natural wealth could support peace if managed cooperatively instead of fueling rivalry.
Tshisekedi and Kagame arrived in the US on Wednesday to finalise the terms of the agreement, building on a preliminary deal reached in June.
Violence has persisted in eastern Congo for more than 30 years, driven by armed groups, regional tensions and competition over land and minerals, according to the UN and Congolese authorities.
The African Union welcomed the accord as a “significant milestone” for stability in the Great Lakes region.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who attended the signing, praised Washington’s role and singled out Trump’s personal involvement in pushing the process forward.
The AU also thanked Qatar for providing diplomatic support and urged all sides to implement the agreement “in both letter and spirit” to ensure meaningful reconciliation and lasting peace.
Youssouf said the AU remains ready to assist both countries and regional bodies as they work to translate the deal into concrete change for their people.
