Rwanda and DR Congo sign peace deal in US

(CLO) On December 4, US President Donald Trump received the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign a peace agreement between the two countries.

Despite the continued violence on the ground, Mr Trump hailed the US-brokered deal on December 4 as a new chapter for the region. “This is a great day: a great day for Africa, for the world , and for both of these countries,” Mr Trump said.

DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met in Qatar in March, kicking off talks that led to the deal. The initial agreement was signed in June. Thursday's ceremony will finalize the agreements.

President Trump, President Kagame of Rwanda, and President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo sign the Washington Accords, a peace agreement, at the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace in Washington on December 4. Photo: White House

The deal has raised hopes of an end to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the March 23 Movement (M23), a Rwanda-backed armed group, has pushed deeper into the country's resource-rich east.

Meanwhile, Rwanda's main grievance with the Democratic Republic of Congo centers on allegations that the Central African nation harbored Hutu militias involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which targeted the country's Tutsi community.

The US-backed peace deal stipulates that Rwanda will end its support for M23 and the DRC will help "neutralize" Hutu militias – specifically the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.

On Thursday, President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the terms of the agreement marked a “turning point” for the region. For his part, President Kagame of Rwanda said the success of the agreement depended on the two countries themselves.

The US President also announced that the US will sign bilateral agreements with DRC and Rwanda to purchase rare earth minerals from the two countries.

“We’re going to be involved in sending some of our biggest and best companies to these two countries… And we’re going to be mining some rare earths, mining some assets and paying money. People are going to make a lot of money,” he said.

Rare earth minerals are considered strategic resources in the world, used in new technologies such as electric vehicle batteries, semiconductor chips..., energy production and medical equipment.

Mr Trump has publicly declared himself worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming that he has resolved eight conflicts around the world this year, although that number remains disputed.

Source: https://congluan.vn/rwanda-va-chdc-congo-ky-thoa-thuan-hoa-binh-o-my-10321427.html