AU hails Rwanda-DRC peace deal

INITIATIVE: Amnesty International decries ongoing violence which has displaced hundreds of thousands of Congolese families despite ongoing diplomatic efforts…

By  WSAM Reporter

The African Union Commission welcomed the peace agreement signed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the United States yesterday.

AU Commission chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described this development as a significant milestone in the pursuit of lasting peace, security, and stability in the Great Lakes region.

He acknowledged “the constructive support provided by the United States, including the personal engagement of President Donald Trump, whose commitment helped create conditions conducive to this outcome”. He also commended the State of Qatar for its diplomatic backing and support, for its and its readiness to support African-led peace initiatives.

The Trump administration is hoping the deal will end decades of conflict in eastern Congo. But even as the two leaders prepare to put pen to paper, fighting between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continues to rage in eastern Congo. This week saw especially fierce combat around the town of Kamanyola, on the Rwandan border.

Youssouf, who joined other African heads of state in witnessing this historic signing in Washington DC, USA, commended the decisive and sustained leadership that made this agreement possible. He paid special tribute to President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo for his ongoing facilitation, President João Lourenço of Angola for his earlier mediation efforts, and the complementary roles played by leaders of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) throughout the process.

He called on all parties to faithfully implement the agreement in both letter and spirit, ensuring that this moment becomes a foundation for reconciliation, regional cooperation, and sustainable peace.

The African Union Commission “stood 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” he added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the signing of a deal for peace and prosperity between the DRC) and Rwanda, his spokesperson said today. The UN chief emphasised that the agreement represents a critical step towards restoring trust between the DRC and Rwanda and in advancing efforts for lasting peace in eastern DRC.

Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, expressed concern at the continuing violence in Eastern Congo despite ongoing diplomatic efforts leading to the signing ceremony.

“After more than eight months of diplomatic efforts by the United States and Qatar to end the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), civilians continue to face serious human rights abuses by the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and the Wazalendo, a coalition of armed groups supported by the Congolese army”

Amnesty International had received credible reports of abuses committed by Wazalendo fighters and revenge killings by M23 against civilians suspected of collaborating with the Wazalendo. Tens of thousands of residents were displaced in October. In parts of North Kivu province, many civilians have resorted to living in forests for fear of attacks by armed groups.

“Congolese are fed up with lofty rhetoric and diplomatic language,” said Chagutah “They are tired of waiting. Thousands of civilians are caught between two brutal forces. On one side, they face summary killings, torture, gang rape and abductions by Rwandan-backed M23. On the other side, they are killed, ill-treated, abducted and raped by members of the Wazalendo.”

US Interests

Congo is one of the poorest countries on the planet, but it possesses fabulous mineral wealth. It is the world’s top producer of cobalt—used in rechargeable batteries in electronics and electric vehicles—and the second-largest producer of copper. It also has major deposits of lithium, tantalum, and other strategic minerals. As well as signing the deal with Rwanda yesterday, Congo will sign an economic partnership with the US. “We really think the United States will get involved because it’s interested in what the DRC has to offer,” Tina Salama, Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, said Wednesday during a press conference in Washington.

There has been significant criticism of the peace deal in Congo itself, where critics, including opposition politicians and civil-society organizations see it as having failed to deliver concrete results. Congo’s government, however, says it wants the Trump administration to pressure the Rwandan army to withdraw. – Additional reporting by NPR