U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to the White House on Wednesday for the formal endorsement of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending more than three decades of conflict in eastern Congo.
The ceremony took place at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, where the two African leaders signed the accord in the presence of Trump and several regional heads of state.
Speaking immediately after the signing, President Trump described the moment as “a glorious triumph for peace and a great day for the world.”
“We have ended a war that has gone on for many, many decades – some people say the deadliest since World War II. Today, Congo and Rwanda choose peace over bloodshed, prosperity over poverty, and partnership with the United States over chaos,” Trump said. “This is what deal-making looks like. Beautiful deal. Maybe the best deal.”
Rwandan President Paul Kagame praised the American leader’s direct involvement.
“I want to thank President Trump for his even-handed approach,” Kagame told reporters. “He did not take sides; he created a clear and viable path forward. That is rare in diplomacy, and we are grateful.”
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi struck a cautiously optimistic tone while stressing the need for action.
“I express my deep gratitude to President Trump for bringing us to this table,” Tshisekedi said through a translator. “My people have suffered too long. Today we sign for true peace, but peace must now be seen on the ground. I call on Rwanda to respect every commitment, just as Congo will respect ours.”
The agreement builds on a framework signed by both countries’ foreign ministers in June 2025. It calls for:
Immediate cessation of hostilities
Withdrawal of all Rwandan troops from DRC territory
Disarmament and cantonment of the M23 rebel group and the FDLR militia
Safe return of refugees and displaced persons
Joint mechanisms to investigate atrocities
Separate economic agreements were also announced, giving U.S. companies preferential access to eastern Congo’s vast deposits of cobalt, coltan, and rare earth minerals.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, heavy fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese forces was reported Wednesday in South Kivu province, casting doubt on immediate implementation.
The signing was attended by the presidents of Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Togo, and Uganda, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several African Union officials.
