Presidents of Rwanda and DR Congo will sign a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington on Thursday, amid ongoing regional violence.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to sign a peace and economic agreement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the meeting, describing the deal as historic.
Trump previously brokered an agreement between the two nations’ foreign ministers in June, claiming credit for ending war in DR Congo.
Violence has persisted in the mineral-rich region despite the earlier pact, with both sides trading blame.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently accused the Congolese government of delaying the peace process.
The conflict has spanned three decades, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
Fighting escalated in January when the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group seized significant territory, including key cities.
Rwanda links ending its military actions to the neutralisation of the FDLR, a Hutu militia connected to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
A spokeswoman for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi confirmed he would travel to Washington to ratify the accord.
“The president has sought regional integration since entering office,” spokeswoman Tina Salama said.
She added that respecting the agreement requires Rwandan forces to withdraw and mutual trust to be restored.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed Kagame’s travel plans but provided no further details.
Trump has expressed interest in securing minerals from eastern DR Congo to boost US competitiveness against China.
Both nations acknowledged slow implementation of the June deal during talks last month but committed to reducing tensions.
