In brief
In a historic summit held in Washington, US President Donald Trump witnessed the signing of a peace agreement between DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. The deal comes in the wake of intensified violence in eastern DR Congo, where fighting has escalated between government forces and the M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwanda. Despite preliminary hopes, analysts express skepticism regarding the deal's potential to usher in lasting peace, noting ongoing tensions and military confrontations in the region.
The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the region at a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Ahead of the summit, there was an escalation in fighting in resource-rich eastern DR Congo between government forces and rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda.
DR Congo's army accused its rivals of attempting to sabotage the peace process, but the M23 rebels said the army had launched an offensive in breach of a ceasefire.
At the beginning of the event at the newly-renamed Donald J Trump Institute of Peace, Trump said the peace ceremony was a great day for Africa and the world.
Leaders including Tshisekedi and Kagame acknowledged Trump's role, with Kagame praising his even-handed approach. Both leaders expressed hope that the accord would lead to lasting peace and stability.
Nevertheless, skepticism remains regarding the efficacy of the peace deal due to ongoing military activities between the M23 and DR Congo's armed forces,as fresh fighting has been reported even after the agreement's signing.
Experts warn that past agreements have failed, often due to unfulfilled commitments and the presence of covert support for rebel movements. The true test of this accord remains to be seen as the situation in eastern DR Congo continues to be volatile.
