Rwanda and DR Congo foreign ministers signed a "historic” peace agreement on Friday, June 27, in Washington D.C, marking what many people hope will be a turning point in the tensions between the two countries.
ALSO READ: Details of Rwanda-DR Congo peace agreement signed in Washington
The accord was formalised by Rwanda’s minister of foreign affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Congolese counterpart, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, in the presence of U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who facilitated the U.S-mediated talks that spanned over two months. According to Minister Nduhungirehe, the agreement will initially focus on neutralising FDLR, a Kinshasa-backed militia group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
"The first order of business is to begin implementation of the Concept of Operations for the Neutralization of FDLR, to be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures,” Nduhungirehe said.
The peace agreement allows for continued engagement through the Qatar-led negotiations, which are expected to address the concerns of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) rebellion, a Congolese coalition fighting for governance that supports basic human rights, secures all Congolese citizens, and addresses the root causes of conflict.
"For the M23, in the agreement, we have decided to rely on the Doha talks because there are currently talks between the AFC/M23 and the DRC government to have a peace deal also," the minister explained. "That will complement the Washington peace agreement."
ALSO READ: Forgotten context: Why blaming Rwanda won&039;t solve DR Congo's crisis
Following the signing of the peace agreement, world leaders took to X, welcoming the development and sharing their views.
U.S President Donald Trump, who welcomed both foreign ministers to the Oval Office shortly after the signing, declared, "Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope.”
The State of Qatar, which has hosted key high-level negotiations including direct talks between President Paul Kagame and President Felix Tshisekedi in Doha, on March 18, expressed support for the agreement.
In a statement released through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar praised "the sincere will and genuine commitment demonstrated by both parties to the approach of peaceful and diplomatic solutions.”
Qatar also expressed pride in having played a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between the two countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the agreement "a historic step forward after decades of suffering,” adding, "To the Congolese and Rwandans, France sends a message of hope. Peace must hold.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the accord as "a step meant to put an end to violence and killings,” and stressed, "It is crucial to stop wars and bring back hope for a safe life in every region of the world. Peace can be achieved through strength.”
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who also witnessed the signing, noted that the accord complements existing African-led efforts for regional stability.
"The agreement reinforces the AU's ongoing diplomatic initiatives as well as those led by the EAC and SADC,” he said in a statement released on the commission's official Account.
He also commended the pivotal roles played by both the United States and Qatar, stressing the importance of international cooperation rooted in African priorities.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, who attended the signing ceremony, extended gratitude to Washington for its role in brokering the agreement.
"Togo stands by your side to contribute to a durable peace in the Great Lakes region,” he wrote on X.
‘A force mightier than the Congolese army itself’
Despite the wave of international optimism, voices of uncertainty, or cautious optimism, have also emerged.
Inside the AFC/M23 camp, Willy Manzi, the Deputy Governor of North Kivu, in eastern DR Congo, expressed doubts about the feasibility of the agreement’s provision to disarm FDLR.
"The Kinshasa regime has effectively signed off on a mission impossible, disarming a force mightier than the Congolese army itself,” he stated.
ALSO READ: Ex-FDLR leader: DR Congo's support for genocidal militia biggest threat to peace
Last month, AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa outlined four main reasons – including bad governance – why his group is fighting to topple the Congolese government. Nangaa attributed the crisis in eastern DR Congo to the collapse of state institutions in what he described as a failed state.
The rebellion has vowed to uproot tribalism, nepotism, corruption, and the genocide ideology spread by FDLR, among other vices, widespread in DR Congo.