ADDS AFRICAN UNION STATEMENT WELCOMING PEACE AGREEMENT
By Diyar Guldogan and James Tasamba
WASHINGTON/KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a "historic" US-brokered peace and economic agreement Thursday seeking to end fighting in restive eastern Congo.
"Today, we commit to stopping decades of violence and bloodshed, and to begin a new era of harmony and cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda," US President Donald Trump said ahead of the signing ceremony in Washington, DC, with both Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame taking part.
Asked when troops will leave Congo, Trump said: “I think you're going to see very quick and very quickly."
He said both Tshisekedi and Kagame are "great leaders."
"I think you'll see very immediate results. I have confidence that that's what's going to happen," he added.
-‘Amazing day for Africa’
Saying that the US is "settling a war that's been going on for decades," Trump said the leaders of the two countries spent "a lot of time backstage" at the White House talking to each other.
Calling it "a very important" and also "an amazing day for Africa," he also thanked the leaders for reaching a deal.
"For more than 30 years, one of the worst conflicts on Earth has been raging in eastern Congo," he said, noting the "countless" suffering of civilians.
Trump also said the deal paves the way for a "new framework for economic prosperity," adding that "there's tremendous wealth in that beautiful earth."
"But in the region that will support a lasting peace, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to more closely integrate their economies with each other, rather than fighting," he said.
Violence has raged in eastern Congo for decades, killing thousands and displacing millions, according to Kinshasa and the UN.
Tshisekedi and Kagame arrived in the US on Wednesday to finalize the peace agreement aimed at moving forward with a US-brokered peace deal reached in June.
-African Union welcomes agreement
In a statement, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, welcomed the peace agreement, describing it as a significant milestone in the pursuit of lasting peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes region.
Youssouf, who witnessed the signing, acknowledged and appreciated the support provided by the US, including the personal engagement of President Trump, whose commitment he said helped create conditions conducive for Thursday’s deal.
The statement said the chairperson also commended Qatar for its diplomatic backing and support, as well as its readiness to support African-led peace initiatives.
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 stands 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.”
*Merve Aydogan contributed to this story