A Washington-brokered peace treaty between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has been signed at the White House, with President Donald Trump declaring it “a great day for Africa.”..reports Asian Lite News
A high-profile signing ceremony at the White House saw President Donald Trump host Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi as they endorsed a US-brokered peace accord intended to halt a 30-year conflict in eastern Congo and reshape the region’s mineral landscape. The two African leaders affirmed their commitment to the deal, acknowledging the “demanding” and potentially difficult path ahead. For Washington, the treaty marks both a diplomatic intervention in a long-running crisis and a strategic opportunity to gain access to some of the world’s most sought-after critical minerals.
Trump welcomed the agreement in characteristically emphatic terms, calling it “an amazing day, a great day for Africa, a great day for the world and for these two countries.” He praised Kagame and Tshisekedi, adding, “And they have so much to be proud of.” The treaty follows a preliminary pact reached in June, although heavy fighting continues in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels recently seized the major cities of Goma and Bukavu. The persistence of violence on the ground underscores the fragility of the peace process and the challenge of translating political commitments into stability.
Trump also highlighted the economic implications of the accord, positioning it as a step toward unlocking Central Africa’s rare-earth and strategic mineral wealth for US firms. “There’s tremendous wealth in those in that beautiful earth,” he said, noting that the region’s natural assets had long been overshadowed by conflict. “It’s a beautiful Earth, but it was stained badly with blood.” He further stated that American companies would be sent to both countries to participate in mineral extraction, saying, “We’re going to take out some of the rare earth, take out some of the assets and pay. Everybody is going to make a lot of money.”
Eastern Congo remains one of the world’s richest sources of gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum, and the DRC is the leading global producer of cobalt and the second-largest producer of copper. These resources are central to global supply chains in electronics, renewable energy and electric vehicles, giving the region growing geopolitical importance.
For Kagame, the agreement represents an opportunity to reset relations with Kinshasa, but he made clear that responsibility for its success rests with Rwanda and the DRC, not with Washington. “If this agreement falters and things do not work out as they are supposed to, the responsibility will not lie with (US) President (Donald) Trump, but with ourselves,” he said. He also acknowledged the likely challenges ahead, stating, “There will be ups and downs on the road ahead. There is no doubt about it. Rwanda, I know, will not be found wanting. I can assure you of that.”
Tshisekedi described the accord as “the beginning of a new path,” emphasising both its promise and its difficulty. He said he hoped the agreement would mark a moment when peace in eastern Congo moves from aspiration to reality.
The conflict in eastern Congo has deep roots in the region’s traumatic history. After Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, in which up to one million people were killed, members of the Hutu militia fled into eastern Congo. Rwanda has long viewed the presence of hostile groups such as the FDLR as a security threat, while the DRC has repeatedly accused Kigali of supporting rebel movements including the M23. Against this backdrop of mistrust, the success of the Washington treaty remains uncertain, but Thursday’s agreement marks a significant diplomatic attempt to break the cycle of conflict.
