Rwanda and DRC Sign U.S.-Brokered Peace Deal as Trump Hails Breakthrough, Critics Voice Caution
by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a landmark U.S.-brokered peace agreement on Friday in Washington, aiming to halt years of deadly conflict in eastern Congo and unlock billions in Western investment in the region’s prized minerals.
The accord, signed in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and hailed by President Donald Trump as “a wonderful day,” marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet in a crisis that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands in 2025 alone.
“They were going at it for many years, and with machetes – it is one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen,” Trump said ahead of the signing. “We’re getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. They never thought they’d be coming.”
The agreement, dubbed the Washington Accord by senior Trump adviser Massad Boulos, outlines a 90-day plan for Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern Congo, where analysts estimate at least 7,000 Rwandan troops have supported the M23 rebel group’s swift territorial gains, including the key city of Goma. A joint security mechanism will be established within 30 days, and a regional economic framework will be launched within three months.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called the agreement a “turning point,” while Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized its potential to respect sovereignty and rebuild trust. Both diplomats met later with Trump in the Oval Office, where he extended invitations to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi to formalize a broader economic agreement in the coming weeks.
Mineral Wealth and Economic Integration
The deal is not only a security pact–it’s a high-stakes economic initiative. With rich reserves of lithium, cobalt, copper, tantalum, and gold, the eastern DRC has become a geopolitical flashpoint, especially as the U.S. seeks to counter Chinese dominance in global mineral supply chains.
Under the agreement, both nations pledged to “de-risk” mineral production and build value chains “in partnership with the U.S. and U.S. investors.” Rubio confirmed that the heads of state would return to Washington within weeks to finalize the full economic protocol.
“This is the best chance we have at a peace process for the moment despite all the challenges and flaws,” said Jason Stearns, an expert on the Great Lakes region. “It will be up to the U.S., as the godfather of this deal, to make sure both sides abide by the terms.”
Peace, But Not Without Controversy
Despite broad international praise–including endorsements from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the African Union–critics voiced concern that the agreement rewards aggression and prioritizes foreign access to Congo’s resources over justice and accountability.
Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynecologist and longtime advocate for victims of sexual violence in Congo, blasted the accord as a betrayal of Congolese sovereignty. “This would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources,” he said in a statement.
Physicians for Human Rights also warned the deal omits crucial accountability mechanisms for war crimes and human rights abuses.
On the ground in Goma, reactions were mixed. Local resident Adeline Furaha expressed cautious optimism: “I hope my brothers and sisters who fled Goma can now return,” she said. “We have truly suffered.” But activist Roland Mumbere remained skeptical: “I’m not satisfied with this agreement because it does not directly ease our suffering. We will still have to wait a long time to see the end of this crisis.”
What Comes Next
While the signing ceremony capped months of negotiations–some held quietly in Doha, Qatar–experts note that past agreements in the region have repeatedly failed due to lack of implementation. Trump, however, pledged to remain engaged, warning of “very severe penalties, financial and otherwise” for any violations.
With the M23 rebels still in control of strategic mining regions and tensions high, the agreement’s success may depend on more than diplomatic signatures. It will require sustained oversight, meaningful disarmament, economic reform, and long-overdue justice.
As the White House prepares for the next round of high-level talks and trade signings, the people of eastern Congo–caught between superpower rivalries and regional hostilities–watch and wait, hopeful that this time, peace might hold.
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