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Peace deal and mineral accords
President Donald Trump hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington to formalize a US-brokered peace deal and parallel agreements on critical minerals and economic cooperation.
“President Trump praised the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda after they signed a deal intended to end the conflict in eastern Congo and to open the region’s valuable mineral reserves to the U.S. government and American companies.”
Trump praised the leaders and presented the accords as both a security and an economic breakthrough.
PBS reported Trump praised the leaders after they signed a deal intended to end the conflict in eastern Congo and to open the region's valuable mineral reserves to the U.S. government and American companies.
Al Jazeera noted the ceremony formalized a US-brokered peace deal and that Trump said Washington will also buy rare-earth minerals from the two countries.
Le Monde added that Trump framed the deal as a major breakthrough and said the U.S. was also signing critical-minerals agreements with both countries.
The Straits Times described the accords as aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo and attracting Western investment in critical minerals.
U.S. economic deals in DRC
Reports describe a substantial economic component to the accords, with the U.S. promoting a "peace dividend" package of joint hydropower, mining, and infrastructure projects.
Trump and other U.S. officials flagged access to the DRC's mineral wealth as a driver for the agreements.
Graphic Online reports the U.S. promoted an economic package of joint hydropower, mining, and infrastructure projects framed as a "peace dividend".
Graphic Online also reported that President Trump reportedly suggested U.S. access to Congolese mineral rights.
The State Department estimated DRC mineral reserves at about $25 trillion in 2023.
Asianet quotes Trump calling the region's rare-earth wealth "tremendous" and says the pact "opens the door for Washington and US companies to access Central Africa's rich minerals."
Le Monde and PBS report the U.S. was signing "critical-minerals agreements" and opening reserves to American companies.
Eastern DRC conflict update
Security and conflict dynamics in eastern DRC remain central and unresolved.
“The agreement... obliges Rwanda to end support for the M23 rebel group and the DRC to help “neutralise” Hutu militias... Although the ceremony finalises the accords and raised hopes of ending the conflict, violence on the ground has not yet stopped.”
Multiple sources report that fighting continued and that the M23 rebel group has seized territory.
Kinshasa and some U.N. experts accuse M23 of receiving backing from Rwanda.
The M23 did not participate in the Washington ceremony and therefore is not bound by its terms.
Al Jazeera reports the compact obliges Rwanda to end support for M23 and the DRC to help 'neutralise' Hutu militias, but cautions that violence on the ground has not yet stopped.
Le Monde and Graphic Online note months of M23 advances, including captures of Goma and Bukavu, and say both sides have accused one another of ceasefire violations.
Graphic Online adds that U.N. experts say Rwanda’s army exerts de facto control over M23 operations.
The Straits Times and Asianet explicitly report that M23 is not attending the Washington meeting, is not bound by the new agreements, and that fighting continued in South Kivu.
Reactions to the accords
Reactions among leaders and critics were mixed: President Trump publicly praised the accords and touted mineral deals.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi sounded cautious and said responsibility for implementation and any failure would largely rest with African actors.
Civil-society and humanitarian groups expressed skepticism that the pact would do much to relieve suffering.
Asianet reported Kagame stressed that if the deal fails the responsibility will rest with the two African nations, not Trump.
Asianet also recorded Tshisekedi calling the pact "the beginning of a new path."
Le Monde similarly reported that Kagame and Tshisekedi were cautious, and PBS documented Trump's praise.
The Straits Times quoted Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege criticizing the deals as motivated more by access to strategic minerals than by concern for victims and warning they would do little to address humanitarian suffering.
Graphic Online noted Kinshasa's insistence that economic steps depend on the withdrawal of Rwandan troops.
Agreement outlook and caveats
Multiple outlets underline that the signing does not equate to immediate peace on the ground and that key actors and conditions remain outside the agreement, leaving the outcome uncertain.
“Although the ceremony finalises the accords and raised hopes of ending the conflict, violence on the ground has not yet stopped.”
Al Jazeera stresses that violence on the ground has not yet stopped.
Graphic Online warns U.S. hopes to unlock investment may not halt the fighting or secure a durable ceasefire.
The Straits Times says U.S. diplomacy has so far helped pause escalation but has not resolved core issues.
Le Monde and Graphic note prior captures of major cities and ongoing clashes.
Le Monde also highlights AFP’s verification limits, underlining that casualty figures and on-the-ground effects remain difficult to independently confirm.
