Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington, aimed at ending decades of armed conflict in eastern Congo and stabilizing one of Africa’s most volatile regions. The historic deal, signed on Friday, includes key provisions for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of rebel groups, many of which have been active since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Under the agreement, both countries have committed to the “disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration” of non-state armed groups operating in the eastern DRC, particularly the Rwandan-backed M23 militia and others linked to ethnic violence and mineral smuggling.
The U.S., which played a central mediating role, is expected to benefit from the agreement through enhanced access to the DRC’s vast reserves of critical minerals, including cobalt, coltan, and lithium — all vital for the global tech and electric vehicle industries. Washington has long sought to secure alternative sources of these minerals to reduce reliance on China.
Although details remain limited, the Biden administration has hailed the agreement as a geopolitical breakthrough. President Donald Trump, who had helped initiate the talks in earlier praised the outcome on his Truth Social platform, calling it “a great day for Africa and a great day for the world.” Analysts remain cautious, citing the failure of multiple past peace deals in the Great Lakes region. More than 120 armed groups operate in eastern Congo, where civilians have borne the brunt of fighting through mass displacement, sexual violence, and massacres.
Still, the signing of the deal is being viewed by international observers as a diplomatic turning point, especially following mounting pressure from the United Nations and African Union to address the worsening humanitarian crisis and hold state and rebel actors accountable. The agreement also aligns with recent developments at the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has approved a separate case filed by the DRC accusing Rwanda of human rights violations—a move likely to influence the peace deal’s implementation and monitoring.
