• DR Congo and Rwanda signed a peace deal in Washington on December 4, brokered by President Trump.
• The agreement aims to end decades of violence in eastern Congo and promote economic cooperation.
• Despite the agreement, clashes continue between Congolese forces and the M23 rebels, raising concerns about the deal's effectiveness.
• Both leaders emphasized the need for implementation and expressed cautious optimism about the future.
• The deal includes agreements on critical minerals as the US seeks to increase access to these resources in the region.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a historic peace agreement in Washington on December 4, 2025, aimed at ending the enduring conflict in eastern Congo. This US-brokered deal has been characterized by President Trump as a "great miracle" intended to foster peace and stability in the region, which has suffered from decades of violence and resource exploitation. Trump emphasized that the agreement reaffirms each country's sovereignty while ensuring access to critical minerals for the US, according to aa and latimes.

During the signing ceremony, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame expressed their commitment to this agreement, which builds upon ongoing peace efforts mediated by the US, the African Union, and Qatar. However, the meeting also highlighted the tenuous nature of the peace process, as violence persisted in eastern Congo, including reports of clashes involving the M23 rebel group, which some allege has Rwandan support, according to lemonde and africanews.

Despite the optimistic language used by the US administration, both African leaders acknowledged the difficulties ahead in implementing the agreement. Kagame remarked, "There will be ups and downs on the road ahead," while Tshisekedi recognized the strong need for tangible results going forward. The deal delineates a framework including disarmament and economic partnerships, which, if effectively implemented, could mark a turning point in regional relations. However, analysts caution that sustainable peace remains achievable only with significant commitment from both sides, according to indiatimes and africanews.

The signing of the peace deal also included provisions for access to the DRC's critical mineral reserves, a point of keen interest to the US as it seeks to reduce dependence on China for these resources. The region is rich in minerals essential for various technologies, prompting discussions of American business investments in the DRC and Rwanda, as highlighted by Trump during the signing event. However, ongoing violence continues to fuel fears that immediate benefits from such investments may be compromised by instability, according to scmp and dawn.