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ANALYSIS | Washington Brokers DRC–Rwanda Peace After 30 Years of War
Based on the U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin – June 29, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a comprehensive peace agreement on June 27, 2025, ending three decades of conflict that has devastated the Great Lakes region of Africa. The signing ceremony at the U.S. State Department, witnessed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, caps months of difficult negotiations and represents a significant diplomatic achievement for the Trump administration.
The DRC-Rwanda peace agreement goes beyond previous failed attempts by establishing concrete mechanisms for implementation, including a joint security coordination system and specific timelines for disarming rebel groups. Most importantly, the 2025 peace deal addresses the central issue that has fueled the Great Lakes conflict: the presence of FDLR militants in eastern Congo, remnants of the forces responsible for Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
DRC Rwanda Peace Agreement Details: Key Provisions and Implementation
Senior Advisor Massad Boulos, who led the U.S. negotiating team for the DRC-Rwanda peace talks, structured the discussions around specific operational details rather than broad promises. The comprehensive peace agreement includes provisions for territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities, disarmament of non-state armed groups, and the establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism building on existing frameworks from the Luanda Process.
The key breakthrough in the DRC-Rwanda peace agreement involves Rwanda’s commitment to lift defensive measures along its border in exchange for concrete action against the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda). Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe emphasized that the FDLR “is no ordinary militia” but rather “the remnant of the forces which committed the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.”
Qatar’s role in the DRC-Rwanda peace process proved crucial despite its official status as an observer. Qatari officials facilitated the initial meetings that broke the diplomatic deadlock in the Great Lakes conflict. Minister of State Mohammed Al-Khulaifi continues separate negotiations between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group, creating parallel tracks that could prove essential for lasting peace in the region.
U.S. Africa Policy 2025: Strategic Partnerships and Diplomatic Engagement
The DRC-Rwanda peace agreement signing coincided with several other African diplomatic engagements that reveal broader U.S. Africa policy priorities under the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued statements marking independence celebrations for Mozambique, Madagascar, and Djibouti—each highlighting different aspects of American strategic interests in Africa.
Mozambique’s 50th independence anniversary statement emphasized U.S.-Africa partnerships in critical minerals, natural gas, and agriculture. Madagascar’s 65th independence celebration focused on maritime security and cybersecurity cooperation between the U.S. and African nations. Djibouti, marking 48 years of independence, was praised for its role in Horn of Africa regional stability and its hosting of American military facilities.
These diplomatic statements, while ceremonial, indicate which African partnerships the U.S. considers most valuable: resource-rich countries, maritime security partners, and strategic military hosts in key regions like the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes.
Statement from Senator Jim Risch: “A Real Chance for Lasting Change”
In a strong show of bipartisan support, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), who attended the signing, issued the following statement:
Great Lakes Conflict Resolution: Implementation Challenges Ahead
Both foreign ministers acknowledged the significant challenges facing DRC-Rwanda peace agreement implementation during the signing ceremony. DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner warned that “no text, however carefully negotiated, can carry on its own the weight of peace.” She referenced feedback from Congolese women’s organizations demanding “a peace that is real, lived, shared, and built with us.”
The Great Lakes peace agreement’s immediate test will come with the planned White House summit in the coming weeks, where DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame will meet to finalize implementation details. More challenging will be the actual disarmament of armed groups and the return of displaced populations—processes that have derailed previous Great Lakes conflict resolution efforts.
Rwanda has already indicated it will begin implementing the neutralization of FDLR forces, while the DRC has committed to facilitating the return of Rwandan refugees. These parallel processes will require sustained international monitoring and support to succeed in ending the decades-long Great Lakes conflict.
Congressional support for the DRC-Rwanda peace process has been notable, with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch and Senator Mike Rounds attending the signing ceremony. This bipartisan backing may prove crucial for maintaining American engagement during the difficult implementation phase of the Great Lakes peace agreement.
African Conflict Resolution 2025: Regional Impact and Future Prospects
The Great Lakes conflict has affected far more than just the DRC and Rwanda over the past three decades. Millions of people have been displaced by the DRC-Rwanda conflict, regional trade has been disrupted, and armed groups have proliferated across Central and East African borders. The 2025 peace agreement could unlock significant economic potential in a Great Lakes region rich in minerals essential for global technology production.
Success in DRC-Rwanda peace agreement implementation might also influence other African conflict resolution efforts. Senior Advisor Boulos has already indicated that Sudan represents the next target for similar U.S. mediation efforts, suggesting the Trump administration sees this as a replicable model for American diplomatic engagement in African conflicts.
However, the Great Lakes region’s history of failed peace agreements suggests caution about long-term success. Previous DRC-Rwanda peace efforts have collapsed when international attention shifted elsewhere or when domestic political calculations changed. The presence of multiple armed groups like M23 and FDLR, weak state institutions, and competing economic interests all pose ongoing threats to sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region.
The involvement of Qatar in African diplomacy adds another significant dimension to conflict resolution efforts. Gulf states have been expanding their diplomatic and economic presence across Africa, often in coordination with rather than competition against Western powers. This U.S.-Qatar cooperation in the DRC-Rwanda peace process could become a template for future diplomatic initiatives across the African continent.
This analysis of the DRC-Rwanda peace agreement is based on official U.S. Department of State documents and statements from the June 29, 2025 Weekly Digest covering African diplomatic developments.