A major step toward lasting peace in Africa’s Great Lakes Region was taken on Friday, April 25, as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) signed a landmark declaration of principles aimed at ending decades of bloodshed in eastern DR Congo.

The agreement, signed by Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Congolese counterpart Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and witnessed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks the first major diplomatic breakthrough between the two neighbors in years.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nduhungirehe hailed the US-facilitated initiative as a “door to lasting peace” but warned that genuine security will require tackling deep-rooted causes, not seeking “shortcuts or quick fixes.”

“Today, we are talking about the real issues, the root causes that must be addressed, to achieve a lasting peace in our region,” Nduhungirehe said. 

The Washington declaration comes after years of strained relations, with Rwanda raising alarm over DR Congo’s collaboration with the FDLR a militia founded by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and accused of spreading hate and violence against Congolese Tutsi communities.

Meanwhile, DR Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the AFC/M23 rebels, who have seized control of two key cities in the east. Rwanda has firmly denied these claims, citing only defensive measures to protect its borders from regional instability.

The signing follows recent diplomatic momentum after the visit of US President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, who met with Presidents Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi to encourage a peace process.

Nduhungirehe emphasized that the Washington principles are not an end but a launchpad toward a comprehensive peace agreement, aligning with African-led initiatives under the East African Community, Southern African Development Community, and Qatar-mediated talks.

Just days earlier, the Congolese government and AFC/M23 rebels announced a ceasefire after their first direct negotiations in three years a breakthrough made possible by Qatari mediation.

“Our common aim is to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible,” Nduhungirehe said. “But there are no shortcuts or quick fixes, and we have to do the hard work to get it done right, once and for all.”

Secretary Rubio praised the signing as a “fundamental turning point,” saying that restoring stability in the Great Lakes Region would unlock massive economic opportunities including for US companies seeking critical minerals deals with Rwanda and DR Congo.

“Durable peace comes before economic development,” Rubio said. "It's impossible to do without the peace. It will also allow millions of displaced people to return to their homes, to safer communities, with new economic opportunities that have escaped generations.”