The presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have signed a US-backed peace agreement aimed at easing years of regional tensions and opening the door to new Western mining investment.
The deal, known as the Washington Accord, was formalized in Washington, DC, during a ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump at the US Institute of Peace. Both African leaders praised Trump for facilitating the agreement, while Trump hailed the accord as a “historic step” toward stability and economic growth in Africa. He also described the two presidents as “very smart” for reaching the deal.
The ceremony took place as the US Institute of Peace faces an ongoing legal battle over allegations that Trump improperly used executive authority to take control of the building.
The meeting in Washington mostly reaffirmed a peace framework the two countries agreed to in June, but US officials have pushed for renewed political backing amid escalating conflict in eastern Congo.
The DRC has battled dozens of armed groups for decades, including the M23 rebel movement, which has seized substantial territory in the east. Rwanda has long accused Congolese authorities of allowing FDLR militias to operate within DRC borders. The group includes fighters linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Under the new accord, Rwanda has agreed to end any support for M23, while the DRC committed to neutralizing FDLR militants operating on its soil.
The agreement also outlines plans to expand economic cooperation, particularly by developing pathways for the sale of rare earth minerals to the United States — a move the leaders say could help drive long-term stability and shared prosperity in the region.