Washington (TDI): The Foreign Ministers of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace deal at the United States’ State Department, on Friday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present.
Since the news came out, questions have surfaced if this deal will effectively put an end to the decades long conflict between the two African neighbors. For now, the deal binds both countries to set up regional economic integration framework within 90 days and a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days.
Over the next three months, Rwanda must pull out its troops from DRC, which, according to Rwanda, stay on ground to protect against the armed group FDLR; composed largely of ethnic Hutus who were involved in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
By and large, the conflict between Rwanda and DRC is heavily rooted in the 1994 genocide. Both countries have accused the other of backing armed militias. A fresh round of fighting broke out in January this year when M23 rebels advanced further into DRC.
Rwanda is accused of backing M23 and the conflict also revolves around DRC’s mineral wealth. With US culminating the peace deal, the minerals dimension becomes all the more important.
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The deal document was signed afterwards by President Trump as well, at the Oval Office, in the presence of both Foreign Ministers, Secretary Rubio, and VP Vance. Both countries are now required to disengage, disarm, and conditionally integrate the rebels.
The peace process was initiated earlier this year by Qatar. Both Rwandan and Congolese Presidents met in Doha after which a joint committee was established, under US auspices.
For now, details about what will be the future of the areas the M23 captured during the fight remain unclear, while some reports even speculate that the deal does not even speak about the withdrawal of Rwandan troops.
“Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity,” BBC News reported Trump said after signing the deal.
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