The peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda was signed moments ago at the prestigious United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., between the leaders of the respective countries, and aims to end the long-running conflict in the region. The signing took place during a summit organized by U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

This act, which brings together African and North American diplomacy, represents the best opportunity in years for regional stabilization. The choice of the Institute, an independent institution created and funded by the US Congress, dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution, lends international significance to this understanding.

At the event, Kagame praised Trump, calling him an “impartial” leader who “never takes sides.” Kagame described Trump’s approach as pragmatic and said that “as a result, the path is clearer and more viable for the future.” Tshisekedi, for his part, expressed “deep gratitude and clear hope,” while stating that he hoped Rwanda would respect the letter and spirit of the agreement.

Tshisekedi and Kagame have already endorsed the agreement, as have several other African leaders who participated in the signing ceremony, including those from Kenya, Angola, Burundi, and Togo, as well as the Vice President of Uganda. The foreign ministers of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were also present, as was the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

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The conflict in eastern DRC, which has lasted for more than three decades and has deeply deteriorated relations between Kinshasa and Kigali, found a turning point in Luanda.

Following the 16th Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in May 2022, which mandated João Lourenço to mediate the crisis in his capacity as Acting President of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Angola hosted the Tripartite Summit that resulted in the "Luanda Roadmap".

This document, signed by Tshisekedi, Kagame, and Lourenço, established clear guidelines for restoring trust: an immediate cessation of hostilities, normalization of political and diplomatic relations, creation of an Ad-Hoc Observation Mechanism led by an Angolan general, withdrawal from positions occupied by the M23 in Congolese territory, and the safe return of refugees.

The roadmap also included measures to combat armed groups such as the FDLR and the illegal exploitation of natural resources that fuel the conflict, and was recognized by the United Nations as an important piece in resolving the crisis.

The Angolan Diplomatic Peso

The agreement now signed in Washington consolidates previous understandings, elevating them to the highest political level with the signature of the Heads of State themselves. This act reinforces the political weight of the understanding and increases the degree of direct responsibility of Tshisekedi and Kagame to their people and the international community.

João Lourenço's presence at the ceremony underscores the visible link between the African process, symbolized by the Luanda Roadmap, and the US mediation that now hosts the ratification phase.

According to analysts like Benjamim Gerard, the participation of the Angolan President is a recognition of the role the country has been playing as a responsible diplomatic and military power, focused on regional stabilization through dialogue.

João Lourenço emerges as a guarantor of confidence, articulating regional expectations with the international agreement and ensuring that the solution does not deviate from African priorities. The signing at the US Institute for Peace is seen as an opportunity to transform a written commitment into an effectively executable plan.

From now on, greater clarity is expected regarding timelines for force withdrawals, the functioning of the Observation Mechanism, the disarmament and reintegration program, and concrete measures to stop the flow of weapons and the illegal mineral trafficking circuits that fuel the conflict.

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Despite the strong symbolic nature of the signing, the future of the agreement will depend on its implementation.

Recent experience in the region demonstrates that this type of commitment can fail without consistent political will, effective technical follow-up, and coordinated pressure from the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the United Nations, and key international partners.

The Ad-Hoc Observation Mechanism, led by an Angolan general, will be crucial in verifying on the ground whether deadlines and obligations have been met. The reactivation of the joint intelligence team and alignment with the Nairobi Process will also be tests of the States' capacity to deal with groups such as the FDLR and other militias.

The stabilization of the eastern region of the DRC should have positive repercussions on the lives of populations who have lived for years subjected to violence, successive displacements, and a lack of basic services. Neighboring countries hope that the decrease in hostilities will reduce the flow of refugees and allow the resumption of development projects interrupted by the fighting.

The objective is that the stabilization of the region will allow, in the medium term, the exploitation of strategic corridors such as the Lobito corridor and other regional connections to boost the economy and integration into SADC.

The simultaneous presence of Heads of State and regional representatives is interpreted as a top-tier political commitment, a sign that the leaders are personally involved in an effort whose failure would have internal and external political costs that would be difficult to justify.