The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C. on Friday (June 27) aimed at ending years of border conflicts. U.S. President Trump described it as a “major breakthrough,” symbolizing Washington’s deep engagement in African security and mineral strategy.
At a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Friday, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed this U.S.-brokered peace agreement, hoping to end the war that has already claimed thousands of lives in both African countries this year. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio presided over the signing ceremony.
For the Trump administration, this peace agreement is a victory as the U.S. government has been positioning itself as a peacemaker in the international community.
The signing of this peace agreement is expected to bring an end to decades of armed conflicts in eastern Congo. Thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in the region this year.
Before the signing ceremony, Trump said, “They’ve been at it for many years, and they’ve been slashing each other with machetes—it’s one of the most brutal wars mankind has ever seen, and I just happened to find the person who can solve the problem.”
Trump welcomed the foreign ministers of both countries to the White House, saying, “The violence and destruction come to a conclusion today, and the entire region will embark on a new chapter of hope and opportunity… It’s a beautiful day.”
Rubio described the agreement signed on Friday as a “key moment after 30 years of war.”
The eastern region of the Congo is a stronghold of the M23 rebel group, which is said to have received support from Rwanda. Earlier this year, the group launched lightning offensives, capturing two major cities and several mining areas. The North Kivu province, where the Rubaya mining area is located, has been the epicenter of this conflict, with rebel and government forces repeatedly taking control, making it one of the largest humanitarian crises globally with over 7 million displaced people.
The agreement stipulates that Rwanda commits to withdrawing troops from eastern Congo within 90 days and will work together with Congo to promote regional economic integration.
The agreement states, “Both sides shall establish a security coordination mechanism within 30 days and implement a previous agreement’s troop withdrawal monitoring and verification plan within three months.”
This agreement will also open doors for U.S. companies to develop critical mineral resources, attracting billions of dollars in Western investment to this region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium, and other minerals.
As part of the peace agreement, American companies are expected to participate in the development of key mineral resources within the Congo.
American senior advisor on African affairs, Massad Boulos, stated that the U.S. is negotiating mineral agreements with Congo and Rwanda, covering not only mining but also processing in the midstream and downstream sectors. Several American companies have already expressed interest in investing.
According to the Financial Times, the U.S. investment firm “America First Global” and Swiss trader Mercuria are negotiating the development of the Rubaya niobium-tantalum mine in the Congo. The project is estimated to involve an investment of over $500 million, with the ores being exported through Rwanda and plans to set up a smelting plant in Kigali for processing.
The Rubaya mining area is one of the main sources of coltan (niobium-tantalum ore) globally. This mineral can extract tantalum and niobium, widely used in electronic products, aerospace equipment, and military components, making it a strategic resource in modern high-tech and defense industries.
Rwanda is a major exporter of tungsten globally, widely used in metal processing and construction engineering.
After the signing of the peace agreement, Trump met with the foreign ministers of both countries in the Oval Office of the White House and handed them letters inviting Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to visit the U.S. to sign multiple agreements referred to as the “Washington Accord.”
Rubio stated that the heads of state will arrive in Washington within weeks to “sign the comprehensive agreement and subsequent protocols.”
Both the Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers urged continued U.S. involvement to ensure the implementation of the agreement.
Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said to Trump in the Oval Office, “Please continue to participate, please stand with us. We need the U.S. to ensure the effective implementation of this agreement and hold us accountable.”
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe also emphasized the crucial role of the U.S. in promoting economic integration.
He said, “To advance the implementation of this economic integration framework, the U.S. must accompany both parties in implementing the signed content. Because we have signed too many agreements in the past without implementation, and now we are ready.”
Trump stated that if any party breaches the agreement, they will face “very severe penalties.”
“I can only say, if they violate the agreement, they will face huge penalties. I don’t think they will violate, but we have prepared very severe punishment measures, including financial and other forms,” Trump said.
Jason Stearns, an international affairs expert at Simon Fraser University in Canada, stated, “Despite many challenges and shortcomings, this is still the best chance we have for peace currently.”
Stearns added that similar agreement models have been seen in the past, “and now, it will depend on the U.S., as the ‘godfather’ of this agreement, to ensure both sides abide by the terms.”