Congo–Rwanda peace pact finalised in Washington, but violence persists in eastern DRC

While political leaders hail a historic agreement, residents of Goma remain skeptical as clashes continue on the ground.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in Washington on Thursday, overseeing the signing of a peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern Congo.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi reaffirmed their commitment to an economic integration compact agreed last month, alongside a U.S.-brokered peace agreement first reached in June. The leaders also signed bilateral agreements covering critical minerals, security, and economic partnerships, according to a White House official.

Speaking at the ceremony, Trump described the historic context of the deal:
"They spent a lot of time killing each other and now they're going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands and taking advantage of the United States of America economically, like every other country does."

Trump also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his role in the process, noting a building naming as a “great honor.”

The signing took place under a backdrop reading “Delivering Peace,” at a venue that the Trump administration unofficially renamed in the president’s honor. Trump emphasized that U.S. companies would benefit from new opportunities in Congo and Rwanda, including access to rare earth minerals.

However, as celebrations unfolded in Washington, residents of Goma, the city at the heart of the conflict, voiced skepticism.

"If their meeting will bring us peace, that’s a good thing," said local resident Djemba Utsu. "We have been at war for a long time and the population continues to suffer."

Another resident, Shishalo Mahemo, expressed doubts: "They say they are in a peace process, and then we learn that the war starts again. It hurts us and we are very worried."

Their fears are grounded in reality. Fighting continues between Congolese forces and AFC-M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda. Clashes were reported in Kamanyola and Katogota in South Kivu earlier this week, with a fresh surge of violence confirmed on Thursday. Civil society groups say at least 20 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in recent days.

Political analyst Omar Grâce warned that while the agreement is politically historic, its implementation is uncertain:
"The mechanism will not depend solely on the written text. There are greater dangers linked to shifting from armed conflict to unfair economic exploitation."

Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. The Congolese army claims the rebels reignited hostilities, while AFC-M23 alleges government forces bombed their positions.

The conflict has persisted for more than three decades, with millions killed and displaced. Trump, addressing the historical scale of the violence, said:
"For more than 30 years, one of the worst conflicts on Earth has been raging in eastern Congo. Millions and millions of people have been tragically killed… Many administrations have tried, but probably not too hard… We tried harder to end this conflict."

Trump expressed confidence that the agreement will yield rapid results:
"This is something that was not doable according to a lot of people. And not only is it doable, I think it’s going to be a great miracle. These two gentlemen are leaders. They're great leaders, and they're going to prove that in the coming months and years."

While diplomats celebrate progress abroad, the people of Goma are still waiting for guns to fall silent and for the promises on paper to translate into peace on the ground.

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