The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has welcomed the landmark peace agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, describing it as a pivotal moment in efforts to restore peace, stability, and cooperation in the Great Lakes region.
Brokered by the United States and Qatar, the agreement was signed by the foreign ministers of both countries at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., and includes commitments to launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days and establish a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days.
Youssouf commended the leadership of Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame for prioritizing dialogue over conflict and acknowledged the vital diplomatic roles played by Qatar, the United States, Angola, and regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The peace deal offers hope for resolving the escalating violence in eastern DRC, where the resurgence of M23 rebels has led to thousands of deaths and mass displacement. This conflict, rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has long destabilized the region.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized that the agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on disengagement, justice, and the return of displaced families and refugees.
The deal also carries significant geopolitical and economic implications, particularly for the United States, by improving access to critical minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium—essential for global technological innovation.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe hailed the agreement as a turning point.
Youssouf reaffirmed the African Union’s full support for its implementation and called on all stakeholders to honor their commitments. He reiterated the AU’s dedication to African-led solutions, post-conflict recovery, and peacebuilding, in line with the Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative by 2030 and the broader aspirations of Agenda 2063.
