Trump Applaudes Peace Agreement Between the DRC and Rwanda, Calling It Historic

Sudanhorizon – Agencies
A ceremony was held this Thursday evening in Washington to sign the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the agreement as historic and as laying the foundation for a settlement to a decades-long war.
DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed two main documents: the first contains the final version of the peace agreement initially signed in June, and the second establishes the framework for the regional economic integration deal reached last month.
During the signing ceremony in Washington, Trump affirmed that the agreement ends one of the world’s longest-running conflicts, which claimed the lives of more than ten million people. He praised the two presidents, saying that they had spent considerable time negotiating to end the war.
He added: “This is a great day for their countries and for Africa,” noting that the agreement halts decades of violence and bloodshed and ushers in an era of harmony and cooperation between the two nations.
Trump said that the conflict in eastern Congo is the eighth war “we have ended since my return to power.” He thanked Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, describing him as “a great man” for his role in facilitating the agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
He also noted that the United States will sign bilateral agreements with both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to purchase natural resources from them.
For his part, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo affirmed his country’s formal commitment to faithfully implementing all obligations arising from the peace agreement with Rwanda. Meanwhile, the Rwandan President expressed his gratitude to the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who represented the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his role in the agreement with DR Congo.
Trump hopes that the agreement will pave the way for the United States to gain access to vital minerals in eastern DR Congo, a region plagued by violence and home to reserves of key components used in advanced technology sectors, such as electric vehicles. The U.S. President announced the signing of agreements regarding vital minerals with both Congo and Rwanda.
He pointed out that the U.S. is “signing bilateral agreements with Congo and Rwanda that will create new opportunities for the United States to access rare minerals and deliver economic benefits for everyone. We will send some of our biggest and greatest companies to both countries to extract minerals from the ground, and everyone will make substantial profits.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda said in a joint statement that they had reached an economic agreement in Washington.
Last November, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel M23 Movement signed a framework peace agreement in Qatar aimed at ending the fighting in eastern Congo, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people this year.
This was the latest in a series of documents signed in recent months as part of efforts supported by the United States and Qatar to end the decades-long conflict in Congo. This conflict has repeatedly threatened to escalate into a full-scale regional war.
U.S. and Qatari officials described the framework agreement as an important step toward peace, though it remains one of many steps still required.

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