Washington, D.C. – United States President Donald Trump will host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the White House on Thursday for the signing of a historic peace and economic agreement, officials announced.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will formalize a pact aimed at ending years of conflict in eastern DRC, which has persisted despite ongoing negotiations.

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Background: Conflict in Eastern DRC

The peace initiative builds on preliminary agreements signed earlier this year. In June 2025, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a preliminary peace and economic pact at the White House. Subsequent talks in Qatar in November resulted in a framework agreement to address ongoing hostilities.

The M23 rebel group, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters, has battled the DRC government in North Kivu province for over a decade. The conflict has its roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which Tutsi communities were targeted by Hutu extremists. The M23 resurgence in 2021 coincided with allegations of support from Rwanda, though Kigali denies direct involvement, claiming its forces acted in self-defense.

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Humanitarian Impact

Thousands of civilians have been killed in the fighting, and millions displaced. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that at least 319 civilians were killed in North Kivu in July 2025 by M23 fighters, allegedly aided by the Rwanda Defence Force.

During this year’s early offensive, the M23 captured two major cities in the DRC, intensifying the urgency of a comprehensive peace deal. Fighting has continued sporadically even as truce talks progressed.

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Framework of the Agreement

Details of the final agreement remain limited, but earlier protocols signed in Doha, Qatar, included:

• Ceasefire monitoring
• Prisoner exchange agreements

Other protocols, still under negotiation, cover:

• Timeline for implementation
• Delivery of humanitarian aid
• Return of displaced persons
• Restoration of state authority
• Reintegration of armed groups
• Elimination of foreign armed elements

A DRC presidential spokesperson emphasized that the agreement must protect the country’s territorial integrity.

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Trump’s Role

President Trump has cited the conflict as one of several international disputes he has helped resolve since taking office. While the agreement’s final terms are not fully public, the White House described the upcoming ceremony as a key milestone in stabilizing eastern DRC and fostering regional economic cooperation.