Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday, June 27, signed a peace agreement in Washington, DC, in a ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rwanda was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, while the DRC was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The signing was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The signing ceremony also was attended by African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, on behalf of the African Union, and Qatari Minister of State Moh
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday, June 27, signed a peace agreement in Washington, DC, in a ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rwanda was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, while the DRC was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The signing was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The signing ceremony also was attended by African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, on behalf of the African Union, and Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi as observers. The signed agreement builds on the
Declaration of Principles signed on April 25, 2025.
The agreement reflects months of sustained negotiations, led by Senior Advisor Boulos. These discussions addressed longstanding issues of governance, security, and economic integration and laid the foundation for a comprehensive agreement that confronts the root causes of a protracted conflict and supports a sustainable path toward regional peace and stability. Minister Nduhungirehe expressed sincere appreciation to President Donald Trump for his personal engagement in facilitating this historic agreement. He also extended gratitude to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump's Senior Advisor for Africa, and the entire State Department team. “Your dedication has been indispensable. This agreement is the product of months of coordinated efforts by multiple actors.” He specifically pointed out that the heart of the peace agreement is the decision to establish a standing joint security coordination mechanism between the DRC and Rwanda. “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,” he said. “With this agreement, we also committed to facilitate the return of refugees in our respective territories, with the support of UNHCR,” he added. He pledged that Rwanda stands ready to work with the DRC to deliver on the joint commitments. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said the agreement marked a turning point from the April Declaration of Principles to a concrete plan for peace.
"We, the DRC, will certainly and resolutely fight for this agreement to be respected — not with our words but with our deeds," she said. Speaking at the signing event, Secretary Rubio said it was not easy to reach the agreement and noted that there is still work to be done in terms of implementation. “This could not have happened without such close friends and partners in the African Union and in Qatar,” Rubio said.
ALSO READ: President Kagame, Tshisekedi meet in Doha to discuss crisis in Eastern DRC
He referred to the signing event as an important step in the direction of peace, pointing out that peace is not just about ending wars. “We acknowledge and recognize there is still more work to be done, but we thank you all very much for being part of this historic and important day,” Rubio said, adding that the U.S. government's facilitation of the peace process was driven by President Trump’s policy. He expressed optimism about the deal’s potential to unlock the region’s economic potential, particularly through partnerships with American businesses, while acknowledging that challenges remain in ensuring its effective implementation.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.