Trump's tentative peace agreement for Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda

After months of diplomatic efforts by the United States to resolve the prolonged humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a critical moment is set for Thursday. DR Congo's President Flix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are scheduled to meet in Washington to formalize a long-awaited peace deal.

The agreement is being framed as a significant achievement for US President Donald Trump and his declared mission to reduce global conflicts. Yet, the recurring caution this week has been that the devil is in the details. Despite several preliminary agreements between officials from both nations in recent months, doubts linger about whether genuine peace can be secured.

Many Congolese still view Rwanda as the instigator of the conflict due to accusations that Kigali has supported the M23 rebel group, which has dominated parts of eastern DR Congo for nearly a decade, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions.

The proposed deal, besides aiming to end hostilities, includes a US-facilitated economic component intended to allow both nations to profit from the region's mineral wealth while opening opportunities for American business investment. However, uncertainty remains once the ceremonial photo session with Trump concludes.

The real challenge lies in addressing the core issues of economics, mining, and human rights, which must be tackled by the Congolese, Rwandans, and the M23 if lasting peace is the goal, warned Benjamin Mossberg from Field Focus, a Washington advisory group. Bringing leaders to Washington and signing a document is the easy part achieving enduring peace will be far more difficult.

Author: Caleb Jennings