DRC-Rwanda : a historic peace agreement signed in Washington under the US mediation

SOS Médias Burundi

Goma, June 28, 2025 – The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda officially signed a peace agreement on Friday in Washington, D.C., aimed at restoring bilateral relations between the two countries. This commitment, brokered by the United States, marks a major step in efforts to stabilize the Great Lakes region.

The agreement comes as the conflict in eastern DRC has intensified in recent years, involving armed groups including the M23, a former Tutsi rebel group that retook arms in late 2021. These rebels are now affiliated with the AFC (Alliance Fleuve Congo), a politico-military movement that brings together several factions operating in eastern Congo with the aim of restructuring political and economic power in this mineral-rich region.

Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting these rebel groups, particularly the M23 and the AFC, and of having deployed thousands of soldiers alongside them, which Kigali vigorously denies.

The main points of the agreement

The agreement includes :

Respect for borders and sovereignty.

A ban on hostilities.

The withdrawal of troops and the suspension of cross-border military operations.

The disarmament and possible reintegration of armed groups.

The establishment of a joint security monitoring mechanism.

The return of refugees and the resumption of economic cooperation.

Trump : “The violence and destruction end today”

US President Donald Trump personally oversaw the mediation and welcomed the foreign ministers of both countries to the Oval Office.

“Today, the violence and destruction end. The entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity, harmony, prosperity, and peace.” We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Trump called the conflict “one of the worst wars the world has ever seen” and emphasized that the United States would remain committed to monitoring the agreement.

Rubio : “A historic moment after 30 years of war”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been overseeing the process, welcomed it :

“This is an important moment after 30 years of war. President Trump is a president of peace. He truly wants peace. He places it above all other priorities.”

Persistent skepticism

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe welcomed the agreement and reaffirmed Kigali’s commitment to continue supporting the parallel peace process with the AFC/M23 currently underway in Doha.

However, several analysts remain skeptical. For them, the signing of this agreement will not resolve the crisis as long as the AFC/M23 is not directly involved.

“I am optimistic, but peace agreements without the AFC/M23 will never resolve the ongoing conflicts in eastern DRC,” stressed Félicien Tumsifu, a political analyst based in Goma.

AFC/M23 leaders reacted, stating : “These are agreements between two countries, not between the DRC and the AFC/M23.”

A crisis that has become regional

For several years, Rwanda has accused Kinshasa of supporting the Hutu FDLR militias, perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has always downplayed this threat, speaking of a “residual force reduced to banditry.”

Burundi has also been drawn into the conflict and has deployed approximately 10,000 troops in support of the FARDC and the Wazalendo militias.

Despite the signing of this agreement, peace in eastern Congo remains uncertain.