WASHINGTON, US — The African Union Commission has welcomed the historic peace agreement signed on the 4th of this month, between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda, describing it as a major milestone in efforts to bring lasting peace, security, and prosperity to the Great Lakes region.
In a press release issued on December 4, 2025, the AU’s Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, applauded the commitment shown by the leaders of both countries — Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda — and urged all parties and regional stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the accord.
“The peace agreement signed today … marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of lasting peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes region,” Chairperson Youssouf said, noting the crucial international and regional support that made the accord possible — including efforts by the United States and the State of Qatar.
The agreement, signed in Washington D.C., was witnessed by heads of state and international mediators, underlining the global significance of the accord.
The AU thanked the U.S. and Qatar for their “constructive support,” while reaffirming its readiness to accompany the two nations during the implementation phase.
The deal builds upon the Doha-brokered framework deal earlier this year and efforts led by regional actors, including mediation by Angolan and other international figures within the AU, as well as involvement by the regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to the agreement text, the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes — rejecting a military-based solution to persistent hostility in eastern DRC.
The pact also includes a commitment to neutralise the armed group FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), perceived by Kigali as a security threat, while paving the way for the disengagement of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory.
Under the accord, the two countries are expected to establish a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days, aimed at facilitating intelligence-sharing, monitoring the withdrawal of forces, and implementing disarmament and refugee-return protocols.
A broader economic dimension is also emphasised. The agreement seeks to unlock the vast mineral potential of eastern DRC — including cobalt, copper, lithium, and other critical minerals — under mutually respectful and transparent mining and trade frameworks, erasing years of conflict over resources.
In welcoming the deal, the AU underscored that its support does not end with the signing. “The African Union Commission stands ready to accompany the parties and regional mechanisms in advancing this vital process for the benefit of the peoples of the DRC, Rwanda, and the wider region,” the statement said.
The Commission urged all stakeholders — national governments, armed groups, civil society, and international partners — to honour their commitments and work collectively to ensure that the accord becomes a foundation for reconciliation, regional cooperation, and sustainable peace.
While world leaders, including the newly re-branded Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, which hosted the signing, have welcomed the agreement as a “historic breakthrough,” analysts caution that lasting peace depends on consistent political will, transparent implementation, and holding all parties — including non-state armed groups — accountable.
Critics warn that unless the security, disarmament, and reintegration clauses are followed through, the deal may fail to address the root causes of violence, including exploitation of mineral wealth, ethnic tensions, and inadequate governance — issues that have fueled decades of instability in the region.
But the AU says the agreement offers a new foundation for stability. For many in the Great Lakes region — long scarred by war, displacement, and systemic violence — hopes are rising that the long-awaited peace may finally be within reach.
