Trump Urged to Support Peace Agreement Between DRC and Rwanda

Diplomats from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have called on President Trump to uphold a recently signed peace agreement between their countries, which took place in Washington on Friday.

During the ceremony, Trump emphasized the need for this agreement to address the longstanding conflict that has spanned three decades. The foreign ministers from both nations expressed some caution regarding the pact’s future implementation.

“We will uphold our commitment. We will continue to support this initiative. It’s essential that the United States ensures this agreement is enforced, and that you are held accountable to us,” DRC’s Foreign Minister Thérès Kayi Kwamba Wagner articulated while addressing Trump.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Ndungerle echoed these sentiments, pointing out, “To effectively implement this economic integration framework, it’s vital for the U.S. to assist in following through on past agreements. We’ve signed numerous contracts that remain unfulfilled.”

Looking ahead, Trump plans to welcome the leaders of DRC and Rwanda for the formal signing of the peace deal in July. The President also extended an invitation to the leader of Angola.

Trump warned that if the involved parties do not adhere to the Washington Agreement, there would be significant pressure applied. He noted, “If they breach it, it’s unlikely they won’t comply, but I also don’t see us having very stringent penalties—neither financial nor otherwise.”

Ongoing violence in Eastern DRC has involved various armed groups, with the influential M23 group reportedly backed by Rwanda. Qatar is reportedly mediating further discussions with M23.

The U.S. has engaged in peace initiatives earlier this year, as DRC sought American mediation in exchange for access to its rich mineral resources crucial to global technology. Massad Bourus, a senior Africa adviser to Trump, revealed that negotiations are underway for a mineral trade agreement involving both DRC and Rwanda.

“We are in discussions surrounding key minerals with DRC. Numerous American businesses have shown interest in investing there,” he mentioned. “Rwanda’s case is similar, with many companies eager to engage not only in mining but also in mineral processing opportunities.”

DRC is well-regarded for supplying materials like batteries and cobalt, which have extensive applications in various industries, including petroleum and chemicals. Meanwhile, Rwanda is a significant exporter of tungsten, widely utilized in metal processing, mining, and construction.

However, concerns about human rights in DRC’s mining operations were highlighted in a federal report last year, raising alarms about the potential use of forced labor in cobalt production.