Kinshasa, December 4th, 2025 (CPA).- The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) made a commitment to act with vigilance and dignity, without pessimism, in the implementation of the peace agreement with Rwanda, during the ceremony to ratify it on Thursday in Washington, United States.
« Today, I believe, marks the beginning of a new path, a new path that is certainly difficult, but one where peace will no longer be a wish or an aspiration. The Democratic Republic of Congo will play its rightful role with dignity, awareness and consistency, with the support of our partners. We will be vigilant, but we do not want to be pessimistic. We will keep our eyes open, but we want to be optimistic. This is about peace and prosperity for our people. And so, it must be a commitment, » has declared President Tshisekedi, specifying that the agreement signed in Washington is not a document among others, particularly in view of the binding provisions that guide towards lasting peace and regional economic integration.
« In fact, it is a turning point. It is an agreement that incorporates, in a coherent structure, a declaration of principles for a peace agreement. For a framework of regional economic integration, to give the people of the region a new perspective that will enable them to move beyond the cycle of violence, forced displacement and mistrust, and enter a new era of friendship, cooperation and shared prosperity, » has added the Congolese Head of State, after ratifying the agreement with his counterpart Paul Kagame, under the mediation of US President Donald Trump.
In addition, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo has reassured his country’s willingness to engage in a peaceful cooperation based on mutual respect with its neighbours, primarily through the ratification of this peace agreement.
« We are open to a peaceful cooperation based on mutual respect, non-intervention and the joint fight against armed groups. This will involve fighting against negative forces in order to enter a new era of prosperity for our two populations, » he has said. The signing ceremony has taken place at the United States Institute of Peace, in the presence of eight Heads of State or their representatives and members of the Government and Cabinet of President Felix Tshisekedi. Much earlier, President Trump and his two hosts had a trilateral exchange lasting nearly two hours.
According to the Congolese Government, the agreement reaffirms DRC’s full sovereignty over its soil and subsoil, exclusive control over the exploitation and processing of our minerals, and the primacy of Congolese law over any cooperation mechanism. This agreement is a great promise of peace for the populations of Goma, Bukavu, Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, Lubero, Ituri and all the localities ravaged by war. This agreement also clearly reflects the commitment of all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of DRC, thanks to the operational technical concept of security disengagement, CONOPS, agreed on October 31st, 2024, which provides for a complete, verifiable and orderly withdrawal of Rwandan troops. CPA/