The finalized Rwanda-DR Congo deal mediated by the US will be signed on Friday
The finalized peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mediated by the United States, is scheduled to be signed by the foreign ministers in Washington, DC, on Friday, June 27.
The agreement was finalized last week when technical teams initialed it, “meaning that it has been agreed by both parties and no changes will be made,” a high-ranking source informed The New Times on Thursday, June 26.
“Foreign ministers will formally sign tomorrow, and Secretary Marco Rubio will be present,” the source stated.
It is anticipated that the deal will include economic, political, and security concerns pertaining to the two nations’ relationship.
Secretary Rubio was present when Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Congolese counterpart Therese Kayikwamba Wagner signed a declaration of principles on April 25. The agreement will be the outcome of a process mediated by Washington.
Following days of discussions in the US capital, which were aided by the State Department, the two nations’ teams initialed the agreement on June 18.
As an observer, Qatar, which has been spearheading another peace effort for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, took part in the negotiations.
It was once anticipated that the peace agreement would be inked in the middle of June. However, the signing was delayed since it took longer to come to a thorough, practical, and mutually agreeable peace deal.
In a recent statement, US President Donald Trump called the impending signing of the agreement “a great day for Africa.”
Massad Boulos, Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, wrote on X that Trump was thrilled to have played a part in the agreement’s facilitation.
Trump stated, “I am delighted to announce that I, in collaboration with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have negotiated a fantastic agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda.”
“This is a fantastic day for Africa and, to be honest, the entire world!”
Following the AFC/M23 rebel group’s victory over a Congolese government alliance that included the murderous FDLR militia earlier this year, efforts to end the decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo gained impetus. The militia, which is supported by Kinshasa, was established almost thirty years ago by the surviving leaders of the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
The group has attacked Rwanda and is accused of promoting genocidal ideology in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations.
