Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are set to sign a long-anticipated peace agreement in Washington on Friday, aimed at ending years of deadly conflict in eastern DRC. However, significant questions remain over the deal’s clarity, implementation, and underlying economic interests.
The agreement will be signed by Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Congolese counterpart Therese Kayikwamba Wagner in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Donald Trump, who has championed the deal, will also meet the ministers in the Oval Office.
Trump, who has publicly lamented not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, has promoted the agreement as a major diplomatic win. The accord reportedly includes commitments to respect territorial integrity, cease hostilities, and disarm non-state armed groups. It was mediated through U.S. ally Qatar and Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, now a Trump adviser on Africa.
Yet despite the positive rhetoric, critics have raised red flags. Nobel laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege warned the deal could reward Rwandan aggression, legitimizing the exploitation of Congolese resources in exchange for a fragile peace. “This would amount to granting a reward for aggression and sacrificing justice,” Mukwege said in a statement.
Tensions between the two nations have flared since late 2021, when the M23 rebel group, largely made up of ethnic Tutsis, launched a renewed offensive, seizing significant territory including Goma. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing M23, claims supported by the U.S., while Kigali denies involvement and demands the DRC eliminate the FDLR, a Hutu militia tied to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Details of the deal remain vague. While Africa Intelligence reported Rwanda had agreed to withdraw its forces and the DRC to sever links with the FDLR, Minister Nduhungirehe refuted this on social media, claiming no such language exists in the document.
Economic components have also sparked debate. The pact references a “regional economic integration framework” and proposes a future summit in Washington with Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC. The DRC, rich in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, is pursuing U.S. investment, echoing Trump’s mineral deal with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Rwanda has floated the idea of accepting U.S.-deported migrants, another key Trump priority.
Despite its promise, the deal’s lack of transparency, paired with geopolitical and economic undercurrents, raises doubts about its durability and fairness. Still, observers hope the agreement marks a step toward lasting peace in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
Written By Rodney Mbua
