Congo and Rwanda flags fly together / Envato ImageGen
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to sign the Washington Accords, a peace pact the three leaders say will end a 30-year conflict in eastern Congo — even as fighting continues on the ground.
The ceremony, held at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, finalized months of U.S.-backed negotiations following a preliminary agreement signed at the White House in June. The deal establishes a permanent ceasefire, disarmament of non-state forces, pathways for refugee return, and a framework for justice and economic cooperation.
Trump hailed the agreement as a breakthrough. “It’s a great day for Africa, a great day for the world,” he said, praising Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi as “heroes within their countries.” The president also emphasized significant new U.S. mineral agreements with both nations, saying they would unlock American access to critical minerals — cobalt, copper, tantalum, tungsten, and gold — while bringing major U.S. companies into the region. “Everybody is going to make a lot of money,” Trump declared.
Kagame called Trump “even-handed” and credited him for seizing an opportunity to intervene in a conflict “far from the headlines.” Tshisekedi voiced “clear hope” for a new path toward peace, though he acknowledged the difficulty ahead. Despite the optimism, clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese forces were reported Thursday in South Kivu, part of a broader surge of violence that has displaced millions and left hundreds dead this year.
The M23 insurgency — rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide — has escalated dramatically since 2021, with rebels seizing major cities including Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda denies allegations of supporting M23, insisting it acts in self-defense, while Congo says lasting peace requires Rwanda to withdraw its backing of rebel forces. Analysts warn that Thursday’s agreement is unlikely to halt fighting in the near term.
Still, Trump framed the accord as a turning point, predicting the countries will leave behind “decades of violence and bloodshed” and enter a new era of cooperation. Later in the day, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce convened American business leaders and African delegations to discuss investment opportunities in minerals, energy, and tourism.
Yet in eastern Congo, residents reported continued clashes, shuttered services, rising crime, and shortages of basic goods. “We are still at war,” said a resident of Goma, echoing widespread skepticism. Both government leaders, however, insist that strong U.S. involvement is a critical step toward an eventual peace.
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