Congo and Rwanda sign peace agreement under US sponsorship
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington on Friday.
The agreement is expected to end the ongoing tensions in eastern Congo between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the signing of this agreement marks an important moment after 30 years of war in mineral-rich eastern Congo.
“There is still more work to be done,” Rubio added, noting that peace “gives us partners to engage with, partners to work with to address insecurity and threats to our national security and our collective national security”.
For her part, Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba said the agreement “opens a new chapter that requires not only commitment but also the courage to achieve it,” adding that “peace is a choice, but it’s also a responsibility to respect international law, uphold human rights, and protect the sovereignty of states”.
“This long-awaited moment won’t erase the pain, but it can restore the safety, dignity, and sense of future that the conflict has robbed so many women, men, and children,” Kayikwamba explained.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe also expressed his country’s readiness to fulfill its shared commitments to the agreement, considering that the support of Washington and its partners has led to a turning point.
The Rwandan minister also spoke about working to enhance economic cooperation, including with American companies and investors.
Qatar mediated the agreement, and a representative from the country attended the signing ceremony, which took place at the US State Department, and the African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf also attended.
The agreement includes principles and provisions on respect for territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities in eastern Congo, and facilitating the return of refugees.
Since launching new attacks last January, the M23 movement has seized control of major cities in eastern Congo, and its fighting against the Congolese army has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.
